We Have Overcome

To the Editor:

Some time ago I wrote a number of letters to the editor criticizing a fellow citizen’s letter who expressed optimism. I did that due to his faulty logic and lack of evidence supporting his argument.

I always embraced reality. At this moment in history I embrace it again, proudly. As of this moment I hereby declare myself to officially be an optimist. The reasons are:

The election of Barack Obama to the Presidency of the United States of America. His election proves a number of truly significant things.

Government by fear and ignorance and lies, a government of hatred and greed is soundly rejected.

It is now proven that our democracy is strong enough to withstand eight years of an administration of miscreants and execrable incompetents. This gang of sophomoric twits left ruin in their wake but failed to destroy the democracy they sought so diligently to corrupt.

What is most significant of all is that we may have finally fulfilled the true promise of our nation. In my early youth there was a song, derived from an old gospel hymn that became the song of the civil rights movement. It was spread by Pete Seeger, Joan Baez and many others, and recently re-released by Bruce Springsteen. That song is “We Shall Overcome.”

It seems at last that indeed We Have Overcome. We Have Overcome the hatred, the lies, the greed, the corruption, the mindset, and worldview we have condemned and fought for all these years.

Overcoming all those obstacles was the easy part; the difficult part is still ahead. Now is the time to make sure we live up to the ideals we fought for.

Robert Karnoff

66 Great Ring Road, Sandy Hook                           November 5, 2008