Historians will note Obama's first breakthrough came months before the November election.

[Poll_Blind]

  For the first time in decades and perhaps since that brief flash of life-saving national introspection short-handedly referred to as "the 60's", Obama's participation in the 2008 presidential race- as a black man- coaxed the well-concealed monster of American Racism to show itself- and cause us all to re-evaluate not what we'd like America to be, but what it really is, today.

  Many who, especially those who are not regularly subject to racism and so grow complacent and disbelieve its existence, have been forced to taste the bitterness that many who are not culturally-blessed with pink skin already know: America has many deep rooted problems which it prefers to ignore rather than deal with.

  Economic, social, racial, political.

  And we are in for some tough times because of it. I believe the American People can overcome any adversity- but they have to realize that there is a problem before any remedy can begin. Curing what ails us means we have to take off the rose-colored glasses and really perceive what America has become before we can correct its wayward course.

PB