It’s the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled – Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America. - Obama, B (2008) Acceptance Speech

It’s a start. It’s not perfect and there’s a set of commentary in the comments on McEwan’s post on the lack of recognition of women as a divide that needs unifying in that speech.  So there’s one place that we know needs work.  What gives me hope that it can be worked on, and can be changed in time is the recognition of gay Americans as part of the union of American people. The US 2008 election has been rife with homophobia and with open, brazen and successful attempts to strip the rights from gay Americans. What is an amazing start is that the President of the United States of America called gay and straight part of the United States.

It’s a start.  Those civil rights for gay marriage, equality and safety are still gone, and there’s a long road to walk before they can be restored and reclaimed, and there’s a lot of work to be done yet. Still, President-Elect Obama stood before the world and declared a stand against those who wanted to see the division maintained for their own gains. It’s one step forward, and a step to be encouraged.

This victory alone is not the change we seek – it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you. - Obama (ibid)

As McEwan (@ Shakesville)has said time and time again about teaspoons, this is a recognition it’s far from over.  The good news is that there’s the guy from Illonis who happens to know about 3 million other men, women and intergender people who also happen to have teaspoons. Whether anything comes of it will be up to the people with the ’spoons.

One things for sure though, the whole damn world just saw what happens when individuals do make use of those teaspoons.  Small individual changes lead to bigger systematic changes, and as McEwan puts it so rightly - it’s not just about Obama.  It’s about everyone of us who have every wondered if our effort can make any difference knowing now that change can happen.