Note from a fello Chicagoan

Dear President Elect Obama, On November 4, 2008, I was one of many Chicagoans waiting with anticipation as you prepared to give your victory speech that night as it closed in on midnight - to honor our Nation in becoming our nation’s 44th president-elect. As you delivered remarks to the hundreds of thousands who turned out to witness this historic event it seemed as if the entire population of the city had descended on Grant Park that night to hear your words of hope. One could not help but believe that we had finally come together as a people, confirming the promise of America – as you said: "If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.” Your victory reminded all that witnessed history that night exactly what was the promise of America. Our founding fathers were willing to invest their hopes and dreams and indeed even sacrifice their lives and their honor - for a set of ideals that continues to be a beacon of hope to the world. In our society all men are created equal and our rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are inalienable rights and the fundamental precepts of our Democracy. Most of all your election to the presidency represents the power of the individual to instigate change and renew the promise of America. As we witnessed the throngs that had assembled that victorious night in Grant Park, this scene brought to mind the words of President-Elect John F. Kennedy in a speech delivered to a 'Joint Convention of the General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' on January 9, 1961 as he spoke about the task of constructing an administration. He said that he had been guided by the standard John Winthrop set before his shipmates on the flagship Arbella three hundred and thirty-one years ago, as they, too, faced the task of building a new government on a perilous frontier. "We must always consider," he said, "that we shall be as a city upon a hill—the eyes of all people are upon us." On November 4, 2008, Chicago became the metaphorical “city upon a hill” and the eyes of all people were upon our city as you and all who witnessed your historic election renewed the promise of America. As one who remembers that Grant Park was previously known primarily for the days of rage following the Democratic Convention in 1968, I am for one proud that our City can now be representative of a truly positive event in our nation's history. Your election to the presidency represents a defining moment in for our country; when our nation has responded to the call to reject partisanship and come together with a common purpose to conquer the challenges we now face as a nation that again threaten our Democracy. Washington has become beset by partisan politics and has come to serve the interests of the few. I believe that you emerged as a leader because in these divisive times of war, economic recession and failed leadership both from the corporate sector and the White House your message of bipartisanship has united us. We can only meet these challenges if we come together as one people. The vitality of our Democracy will involve first and foremost the hard work and dedication of all Americans to improving the lives of ordinary citizens – affordable health care, rebuilding our cities’ infrastructure, investing in green technology and making higher education more accessible and affordable to the average American. These things are all aspects of reclaiming our right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. In order for the United States to continue to compete in the global economy we first need to direct our attention to the needs of the American people that have been neglected over the past eight years due to the war in Iraq, bailing out failed institutions and exporting jobs overseas. Your election represents not only a renewal of the fundamental principles of our Democracy, but a new era which departs from the cynicism, partisanship and apathy of the last eight years and towards a more bi-partisan effort to solve the overwhelming issues that currently confront us. As President Kennedy stated in his inaugural address (January 20, 1961): “We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans—…proud of our ancient heritage—and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this Nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world.” Sincerely, Pamela Brown