How far we've come

Peggy Wallace Kennedy, the daughter of the late George Wallace, one of the most poorly regarded governors of the era of segregation in the United States, writes a really touching and thoughtful column, today, on her father and the need for all of us to have the space we need to learn the lessons we need to learn.

My father, George Wallace, and Barack Obama

"Healing must come, hope will be our lodestar, humility will reshape the American conscience, and honesty in both word and deed will refresh and invigorate America, and having Barack Obama to lead will give us back our power to heal.

My father lived long enough to come to an understanding of the injustices borne by his deeds and the legacy of suffering that they left behind. History will teach future generations that he was a man who used his political power to promote a philosophy of exclusion.

As his daughter, who witnessed his suffering in the twilight of his years and who witnessed his deeds and heard his words, I am one who believes that the man who, on March 7, 1965, listened to the reports of brutality as they streamed into the Governor's Mansion from Selma, Alabama, was not the same man who, in March of 1995, was welcomed with open arms as he was rolled through a sea of African-American men, women and children who gathered with him to welcome another generation of marchers, retracing in honor and remembrance the historic steps from Selma to Montgomery.

Four years ago, the young Illinois senator who spoke at the Democratic National Convention mesmerized me. I hoped even then that he would one day be my president.

Today, Barack Obama is hope for a better tomorrow for all Americans. He stands on the shoulders of all those people who have incessantly prayed for a day when "justice will run down like waters and righteousness as a mighty stream" (Amos 5:24).

Perhaps one day, my two sons and I will have the opportunity to meet Barack Obama in person to express our gratitude to him for bringing our family full circle.

And today, the day after the election, I am going to ride to the cemetery so that if asked, I can vouch for the fact that the world is still spinning but my father lies at peace."

Rest in peace, Governor Wallace. We've all come a long way.

Perspective

Kathleen Parker offers some, this morning.

Not the Worst of Times

As someone who voted Obama, I have no illusions that America is dramatically different today than yesterday. I hope we are more cautious of the use of force and more aware of the limits of power today than we were 4 years ago. But I know that is only partly true. It will take another 4 years for us to learn the limits of power that Democrats wield as well as Republicans.

What makes democracy great is not that any of us, of any ideological, religious, ethnic, gender or any other background have all the answers, nor that always, or even more often than not, we wield power wisely.

What makes democracy the strongest form of government in the history of the world is that we have more freedom and openness to learn our lessons, better, over time.

We have, now and forever, many lesssons to learn. The most important lesson we face, right now, is the limits of power to resolve important problems in our lives.

I can only hope that this election will be a step in the right direction, in that vein.

Only time will tell.