plezWorld on President-Elect Obama

I listened to Barack Obama's victory speech the other night. Actually, I listened to it more than once. My eyes still tear up when he says, "Yes we can."

He was measured, sober, inspirational, and oh-so presidential. It was a simple speech, but he clearly articulated what needs to be done to right the American ship. He talked about what this country needs to do over the next eight years, he was honest and said that many of the things that he plans to accomplish will not be done by the end of his first term.

But what struck me the most about Tuesday night's oratory, was what he said without saying it... he was the personification of a sea change that needs to sweep through this nation. The crowd that he moved represented America and the words that he did not need to speak continue to echo in my mind.

"No more dancing in the end zone. Hand the ball to the referee and go back to your bench."

Gone is the 400-year mentality that implicitly and explicitly defined a slave-class in America. Gone are the feeble excuses of "why not;" Obama said that "anything is possible." We must remove the "no we can't" lexicon from our vocabulary and replace it with a new creed of "yes we can."

Ignorance, pettiness, self-hatred is no longer tolerated. Educate yourself and your children, and love the skin you're in. Brilliance, high mindedness, class, decorum, and poise are the new standard.

The world witnessed the rebirth of the American family standard: a strong-willed and intelligent father at the helm, an equally intelligent and poised mother to manage the hearth, and well-behaved, obedient, and cute children. Men, regardless of color, are now required to be husbands to their wives and fathers to their children. Women are required to demand nothing less of their mates. And children will thrive in a two-parent household. This is the American standard.

I could've sworn that I heard Barack Obama say that it is time for our boys to stop sagging and pull up their pants, go to school, sit up straight, and learn something. Obama said that there is no future in thuggery, misogyny, and self-destructive behavior. You will learn to respect yourself, your parents, and your community. You will not aspire to graduate to a jail cell. Your role models will no longer be thugs, pimps, ne'er-do-well athletes, nor hatred spewin' preachers... you will model your behavior on the President of the United States.

Obama said that our girls will be girls... not little women, not harlots, not "drop-it-like-its-hot" video vixens. They will respect their bodies, their parents, and their communities. You will model your behavior on the First Lady of the United States.

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I have no idea how Obama plans to fix the economic mess. Will the government continue to take over more of the financial industry or will they allow the free market to correct itself?

Time will only tell what will be the shape of an Obama Administration foreign policy.

After running and winning the most fantastic presidential campaign in the history of our country, there is no doubt that President-Elect Obama will assemble a world-class administration that will be well suited to develop a thoughtful legislative, domestic, and foreign policy for the American people. We can all rest assured that this country is in good hands for the next eight years. President-Elect Obama will govern this country with an eye firmly affixed to our history.

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plezWorld is under no illusion that Obama will fix all of America's ills, but the tenor that resonates in this great land has already changed.

I have already made arrangements for my family to be in Washington, DC on January 20th to witness Barack Obama take the oath of office. I'll be staying with one of my fraternity brothers from college and his family (our daughters are the same age).

I will tell you now... I'll probably cry like a baby while Obama is taking the oath of office!

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Read the CNN.com articles about how Obama has begun to assemble his administration and the work of his transition team.

Read the CNN.com article about George W. Bush's presidential legacy.

Read the New York Times op-ed piece about optimism of an Obama presidency.

Read the Washington Post article about how Bush and Obama will meet on Monday.

Read the Washington Post pre-election op-ed piece by Eugene Robinson about pride in Barack Obama.

Read the Atlanta Journal-Constitution article about Fulton County, Georgia is still counting ballots from Tuesday's election.