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By Michael Stodola Special to OnMilwaukee.com E-mail author | Author bio More articles by Michael Stodola

Published Jan. 28, 2009 at 8:27 a.m.

Tags: barack obama, history

In 1491, a man named Franz Mueller lived in Germany. He had three sons and made his living as a judge. He was my great (x13)-grandfather. And the reason you don't know him is because he was a normal Joe and lived his life as most did.

So, whom DO you know?

Let's see, there's Shakespeare, Edison, Washington, Galileo, Buddha, Kennedy, Plato, Lincoln and Dr. Martin Luther King to name a few. These guys were once young boys who became men, who followed a path that lead them to extraordinary places. They made mistakes, they laughed, and they tried their best. And like it or not, history put them on the good side -- and for good reason.

The bad side, of course, features Hitler, Stalin, Manson and Joan Crawford.

So where will President Obama fit into the nomenclature of good and evil? Well, this one is "his to lose," as it were. All I can say is this: the weight of this landmark in American history is more significant than any one of us can imagine. Just consider the race issue alone. We've had hundreds of years of slavery, followed by one hundred years of oppression, followed by the assassinations of major civil rights leaders, followed by a handful of old white criminals in charge.

And then along comes July 27, 2004.

Barack Obama seemed to rise up and capture something within us all. Sure, it was a great speech, but there was something beyond the charisma that few can articulate -- an energy and light that frightened critics and ignited hope. The 2008 election was merely an exercise in media spending.

Truth: Barack Obama will always be the first African-American president. He will always be the embodiment of Dr. King's Dream. He will always be one of the most historically significant Americans. Basically, he would have to murder thousands of people, have several Watergate-level scandals and pull off a skin-mask to reveal he's actually a lizard alien to end up on the wrong side of the history books.

Tom Cruise, Elvis Presley, Brad Pitt, Tiger Woods, Marilyn Monroe, and Kermit the Frog will all be long forgotten, but President Barack Obama will live on.

So, what's the point in attempting to tear him down? Now, I understand and respect a well-balanced, thoughtful critique. And sure, President Obama will make mistakes. But for Mark Belling, and even the "hilarious" Bob and Brian, to rip at the fabric of this hope and happiness is a pitiful attempt to grab ratings, and it's transparently sad. It's a bit embarrassing to see the local talent mudslinging with wastes like Rush Limbaugh.

As for history and I, we're both quite hopeful, supportive and willing to reboot the American way of life. I obviously voted for the man and, yes, as a blogger, I'm very biased. Guilty. But Barack owns the golden ring, the benefit of the doubt and the opportunity to further inspire the country -- for centuries to come. And in the words of Abraham Lincoln, "You can't escape history."

36 comments about this article. Post a comment / write a review.

Recent Talkbacks ...

Posted by willisnd2008 on Jan. 31, 2009 at 2:13 p.m. (report)

What really bothers me the most, when reading over the critical and attacking comments on our current President, is the inability of most to step out of their everyday 'comfort zones'; be it bigotry, closed mindedness, elitism, partisan politics, or ignorance, and simply accept a very important milestone in American history. Are there really this many people, not only in America, but in our city, who can not appreciate this tremendous occurrence in our country's existence? When looking at the big picture of things, meaning, looking past whether or not one agrees with all of President Obama's ideas or policies (I don't agree with the pending stimulus package, or the last one for that matter), or whether or not your vote went for Mr. Obama, the fact there is this size of a contingent, who lack the aptitude to muster up enough humility, or to comprehend the enormity of what this means and where this will stand in American history, is as frightening as it is sad. It speaks more to the current state of America's problems, beyond the economics and the other so-called 'core' issues. It forces one to realize that we are descending into a state in which there is no embarrassment, or backlash, for being mean, or arrogant, or immature. We are becoming a country full of people who refuse to simply grow up, see things through the eyes of others, as ADULTS are able to; and that is disturbing. I don't believe that we can grow as a people, until the rich realize that there are indeed those who are poor and needy. Not because those people are lazy or uneducated, but because not everyone who was born into poverty, or close to it, has managed to find a way out. We won't mature until White people realize that there are Black people who have problems; and until us Black people who want to be thought of realize that there are Hispanics that have a cause. Those Hispanics need to think of the Asians, and they of the Arabic, it continues. The basic point being that is numerous agendas, and platforms, that require, as well as deserve the attention of popular American politics. But that won't happen, until it becomes woven into our fabric, as adults. I don't know when or if this is possible, but I feel as if we better start making an effort to not only be better people, but also to find a more positive way to expend energy, rather than attacking one another. If we are not able, those behind the various agendas and platforms, who we now ignore or refuse to hear whispering, will no longer request, but demand that they be addressed.

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Posted by GMAMA on Jan. 31, 2009 at 12:51 p.m. (report)

The problem with you is that you only thought that the Messiah was a white man. Surprise!!!

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Posted by brewguru on Jan. 29, 2009 at 4:43 p.m. (report)

This tripe is unbelievable. He's been in office for a week and he's already one of the greatest men in history???? Don't get me wrong, to hear everyone talk, I am elated that the Messiah is in the White House. I'm surprised the economy isn't fixed with the snap of his fingers. Geez, I am stunned.

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Posted by rabid652 on Jan. 29, 2009 at 3:42 p.m. (report)

We don't debate trolls. Now run along and go play with daddys loaded gun.

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Posted by captain on Jan. 29, 2009 at 3:37 p.m. (report)

You are a recovering liberal? What did you win the lottery? It must be lonely at the top! Group hug - fellow liberals!

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Show me the other 31 Talkbacks

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