Yea, they are just a bunch of numbers. But they are such historic numbers they need to be noticed and called out.
44- the number of Presidents who have been elected to office since the inception of our nation. 44 times, people have gone to the polling place, and in one form or another made their opinion count.
13- Amendment to the US Constitution abolishing slavery in our nation.
14- The amendment provides a broad definition of citizenship, overruling Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857) which had excluded slaves and their descendants from possessing Constitutional rights. The amendment requires states to provide equal protection under the law to all persons
15- United States Constitution prohibits each government in the United States to prevent a citizen from voting based on that citizen's race,[1] color or previous condition of servitude (i.e., slavery).
It was not even really till the 1950's that the 15th Amendment was really utilized, and the 1960's that segregation became "unpopular"
That is a mere 40 years. 40 YEARS!! And in that time, racial lines are still drawn everyday, sadly, even now, in the year 2009, there is glaring examples of prejudice in our nation.
BUT TODAY, after 43 Presidents before him, our nation elected and put into office a man of integrity (we hope) who is also African American. So many people, thought the day would never come. That the US would never be able to step across racial lines and make this step into the future. But it happened today. I have no idea what the next 4 years will bring. But I know today, I am proud to be an American.
44- the number of Presidents who have been elected to office since the inception of our nation. 44 times, people have gone to the polling place, and in one form or another made their opinion count.
13- Amendment to the US Constitution abolishing slavery in our nation.
14- The amendment provides a broad definition of citizenship, overruling Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857) which had excluded slaves and their descendants from possessing Constitutional rights. The amendment requires states to provide equal protection under the law to all persons
15- United States Constitution prohibits each government in the United States to prevent a citizen from voting based on that citizen's race,[1] color or previous condition of servitude (i.e., slavery).
It was not even really till the 1950's that the 15th Amendment was really utilized, and the 1960's that segregation became "unpopular"
That is a mere 40 years. 40 YEARS!! And in that time, racial lines are still drawn everyday, sadly, even now, in the year 2009, there is glaring examples of prejudice in our nation.
BUT TODAY, after 43 Presidents before him, our nation elected and put into office a man of integrity (we hope) who is also African American. So many people, thought the day would never come. That the US would never be able to step across racial lines and make this step into the future. But it happened today. I have no idea what the next 4 years will bring. But I know today, I am proud to be an American.
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