Congratulations should go out to Barack Obama and the Democratic party today.  After a long and arduous campaign, it seems that Obama will make history as the first major party candidate for President of the United States who is clearly of color.

Whether Barack Obama wins or loses in November remains to be seen, but he has come a long way and he has shown that the United States has also come a long way in it's 200+ years of history.  Heck, we've come a long way in just the last approx. 40 years of our history, looking back from the time of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination, John F. Kennedy's assassination, and Malcolm X's assassination.  Even more recently, things have changed since the days of the Rodney King riots in L.A.

There are still plenty of racial wounds to be healed in the United States, too many people on either side that can't let go of the past and move on to the future, people like those seen in the recent video showing the deranged Hillary Clinton supporter from New York.  People who may never change their minds.  Over the next century, we may get closer to a happy homogenous society and may look past color as an excuse for mistreating someone or expecting poor service or treatment from someone.  Keyword there being MAY.

I could go off on a tangent of my experience in a fast food restaurant last night.  A small sub-shop (national, or at least regional, chain type) where someone of color was in the line for ordering food and was taking too long to order as others que'd up behind her and someone was calling to place a take out order on the phone.  The cashier/order taker was growing frustrated with her and took the phone call while she was fumbling to place one of about a half dozen orders that she eventually placed.  Her attitude was one that wouldn't have endeared her to many other individuals, and the order taker was clearly busy and frustrated after a long day in a hot kitchen.  Bad combination that lead to him snapping at her that she was taking too long, and her retorting back in a way that let shine through just a bit too much bad attitude.  The type of bad attitude that sends the message that race is still a factor, and will be a factor for a long, long time.  In much the same way that the attitude that shined through in that Clinton supporter video did, the message is clear that there's still a long way to go to get over the mountains in our way, but eventually, good lord willing as a country we just might do it.

I wish Obama the best of luck, just as I wish McCain the same.  I really, for the first time in a long time, don't see myself as having a horse in the race for President at this point.  I'm not enamored with John McCain and have serious doubts about him for a variety of reasons.  I have an equal number of questions about Barack Obama as well, and who the running mates are for either candidate might seriously influence the level of enthusiasm I'd have for either party's ticket.  For now I'll sit back and watch and see what develops between now and election day.  It's still a long way off and the mud has not yet begun to fly, nor have the lies and distortions that will surely be let fly.  Even as we end one long fight, another will begin and the serious issues that face this country will hopefully come to the fore and become the focus for both candidates, or so I hope.