An Historic Day, but Also Proof There is More Work to Be Done

Barack Obama was overwhelmingly named the 44th President of the United States of America last night in an election that will always be remembered for the historical implications of the nation's first African American president just forty years after black people in this country weren't allowed to drink at the same water fountain as white people, weren't allowed to use the same restroom, weren't allowed to sit at the front of the bus. Forty years ago a movement started that hoped to change all of that, a man stood in front of the nation and said that he believed one day it would change, he told us of his dream for this nation and I believe that last night is part of what he envisioned. I wish that he could have been there to see it. Nothing can take away how important that is and how monumental last night was in regards to where this country has been on the issue of race historically.

But at the same time, last night showed us how far we still have to go when it comes to civil rights.

Arizona Proposition 102, Ban on Gay Marriages, passed.

Arkansas Initiative 1, Ban on Gay Couples Adopting Children, passed.

Florida Amendment 2, Ban on Gay Marriages, passed.

And California Proposition 8, A Constitutional Amendment to Ban Gay Marriages, which the State Supreme Court recognized recently as being against the State Constitution, looks as if it too will pass, though the vote is at this point still considered too close to call.

Forty years ago electing a man who happened to be black would have been unthinkable, yesterday it came to pass in the highest office in the land. But today, civil rights are still being denied to people, different people, perhaps, but no less human and no less deserving of civil rights whatever your view on their sexual orientation might be.

As ecstatic and proud as I am for the results in the Presidential election yesterday, I am equally ashamed of this country and its voters for the ballots denying equality to a portion of its populace.

We still have a lot of work to do.

As disappointed as I am, however, there is some hope for the future.

According to CNN.com exit polls, voters 18-29, the future of this country, in Arizona voted against Proposition 102 52% to 48%. Voters 18-29 in Arkansas voted against Initiative 1 54% to 46%. White voters 18-29 in Florida voted against Amendment 2 51% to 49%. And California voters 18-29 voted overwhelmingly against Proposition 8 63% to 37%.

I truly believe that as today's young voters become the majority and are joined by new young voters who believe in civil rights for all even more ardently then the generations just before them, change will come here as well.

There is more work to be done, but perhaps we are beginning to have the people capable of making that change in position to do so. And ourselves as young voters more then any other people, elected or otherwise. This country belongs to us. Its future belongs to us. And yesterday we began to show that we, the young voters, are ready to do what is necessary to make this country everything it can be and to give everyone, everyone, the rights that they deserve.

Yes We Can.