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Today many in America and around the world are rejoicing over the election of Barack Hussein Obama to the highest political office in the United States. He is the ultimate dream-come-true of African Americans who have long fought to be recognized as free co-equal citizens after early America's terribly shameful stigma of slavery was forced upon them. The old spiritual song, "We Shall Overcome," has been realized at last.
Oprah Winfrey said, "…I've sort of been, like, pulsating all day, and now I feel like I'm, like, in full-vibrational-mode … It feels like there's a shift in consciousness. It feels like something really big and bold has happened here…"
Simon Rosenberg, president of the New Democratic Network, said, "I don't think we're going to see the restoration of an old political age, but the ushering in of a new age. They're going to rewrite the rules."
Russel Simmons, founder of the hip-hop music record company, Def Jam, said, "Obama's election as president is a beautiful testament to the American collective consciousness that is flowering. This more loving consciousness will be necessary to protect us from some of our hurtful human choices and tendencies."
Kimberley Ashley, a Republican, said, "It's not a typical answer but I believe he has a higher consciousness. I think he's more spiritually awakened and that he'll make different choices based on that and not on external forces."
Daniel Clark, 41, described Obama's win as "magical." He said, "It's like a spiritual cleansing.
Louis Farrakhan, leader of the Black Muslim's "Nation of Islam," called Barack Obama the messiah. He said, "You are the instrument that God is gonna use to bring about universal change. And that is why Barack has captured the youth. And he has involved young people in a political process that they didn't care anything about at the time. That's a sign. When the messiah speaks, the youth will hear. And the messiah is absolutely here."
Ted Howard, a 64-year-old African-American, said, "It's more spiritual than political."
Jesse Jackson, Jr., son of Rev. Jesse Jackson, said, "I cried all night. I'm going to be crying for the next four years. What Barack Obama has accomplished is the single most extraordinary event that has occurred in the 232 years of the nation's political history. The event itself is so extraordinary that another chapter could be added to the Bible to chronicle its significance." Jesse Jackson, Jr., is a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives representing Illinois's Second congressional district, which includes part of the Chicago South Side.
We can understand and even feel the enthusiasm of people of African descent, not only across America, but around the world. In a sense, we rejoice with them. But, when Jesse Jackson Jr. suggested that we add another chapter to the Bible, he went too far. The world does not need another chapter added to God's completed collection of divinely inspired Scripture. Perhaps he simply meant that the world should accept what the prophecies of Scripture long ago predicted -- thus suggesting that the Bible's messiah has finally arrived.
