Nov 4: Biggest day of pride in 43 years
As an unreconstructed 1960s liberal, I tried to remember the last time I was so proud of my country as I watched President-elect Obama's first speech. It was August 6, 1965, the day President Lyndon Johnson signed he Voting Rights Act of 1965. For if there was one gaping hole of shame in our body politic for those of us working for civil rights, it was the refusal of our national government to allow an entire segment of its populous the right to vote.
The Nov. 4 election put a period on that day 43 years ago when that evil vestige of second-class citizenship for African Americans finally began to crumble to dust. It was a long wait between such moments of pride ... but it was worth it.
Walt Zlotow
Glen Ellyn
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