Did you see Hillary Clinton’s speech on Saturday? It was inspiring and intelligent and a graceful exit from the race for president. She truly has shattered one a glass ceiling—the political one. Hers was not a concession speech so much as it was a rallying call to everyone—young and old, male and female—to never give up a dream or an ideal. It was also a moment to feel good about being an American, an acknowledgment of how far we’ve come in overcoming the old stereotypes, racial and sexual, that used to be accepted as fact not very long ago.
While Hillary was busy shattering one ceiling, Barack Obama was shattering another one—a racial one. Barack, an African-American from very humble beginnings, will now become the presidential nomination of the Democratic Party. I am 53 years old and I am as proud of this fact as I am of what Hillary Clinton has accomplished.
I know many people are disappointed and angry. Many women, especially those over the age of 50 or so, who grew up during the women’s movement, are understandably bitter and disillusioned.
But as Hillary said on Saturday, let’s move forward to “build an America that respects and embraces the potential of every last one of us,” and make certain “there are no acceptable prejudices in the 21st century in our country.
Amen.
