Page 4 - Florida Sentinel 1-24-17 Edition

January 20, 2009
While today is a sad day for some, I choose to be happy. I'm not happy because President Obama's tenure is over. I'm happy because like a good relationship that comes to an expected end, I'm glad we had this time together.
In 1984, Jesse Jackson's "Keep Hope Alive" mantra was so inspiring to this then eight-year-old. Four years later, when he wasn't chosen to be the Vice Presidential candi- date on the Democratic ticket, I was disappointed, but not discouraged that America wasn't ready to accept an African American as one of its standard bearers.
In 1993, a teacher told my classmates and I that we would never see a Black President in our lifetime. She said that a woman would be first and eventually our grandkids would see a Black president. I don't think she said this be- cause she was prejudiced, I think it was because in her life experience, the country just hadn't changed enough to ac- cept people who looked like me in political leadership. Maybe because I was no longer a child, but on that day, I stopped believing it would happen in our lifetime.
This is why President Barack Obama's election meant so much to so many. "Yes We Can" was the fulfillment of the "hope" Jesse asked us to keep alive. For Gen Xers like me, it meant our natural sense of skepticism could finally give way to the possibility that people could be fair and America would live up to its promise of opportunity for all, regardless of how stupid, superficial factors of race and gender often divide us.
On this day eight years ago my friends and I stood freezing on the National Mall to witness the shattering of a ceiling we had literally been taught would never be bro- ken and it inspired us to live up to the fullest of our poten- tial because truly just like him, we could, too.
For many, most of our children have been born during a time when the leader of the free world looked just like them. No one can tell them that they can't or they won't because of their skin color (though we still have ceilings to break with gender).
So while I'm sad to see him leave I'm happy because his legacy is greater than just political accomplishments or ground breaking legislation. I'm thankful for what his time in the White House represented.
For an older generation he was the fulfillment of a "dream" that millions were unfairly locked out of partici- pating in.
For my generation, he was the inspiration that gave permission to believe in achieving the impossible.
For our children's generation, he is not a Black Presi- dent; just "The President" and that is the legacy of hope and equality we must all work hard to keep alive.
Thank you Mr. President. You have meant and still mean so much.
Today I choose to be happy. My Best,
Ed Narain, (Former State Representative)
Healthcare Justice
Healthcare Justice:
Get Ready To Fight For Healthcare Justice
The inauguration of a new president should be a celebra- tion of American democracy.
An inauguration tells us that no matter what our party or politics, we can be thankful to live in a country where power is transferred peacefully and the will of the people de- cides who our leaders will be.
This inauguration, how- ever, has brought more fear than hope.
The disenfranchisement of thousands of largely poor and minority citizens in states that ultimately handed their votes to President-elect Donald Trump is just one of many shadows that hang over his election victory.
What will this new presi- dent do?
At the top of President Trump’s agenda is the repeal of “Obamacare,” the Affordable Healthcare Act.
In destroying this law, he has willing accomplices in the Republicans who now control Congress, and have fought tooth and nail against the idea that the richest country in the world can ensure all its citizens have affordable healthcare.
Repeal and replace, they say. And President-elect Trump has promised us “something great.”
But the Republicans are re- fusing to say what a replace- ment would look like, possibly because they do not have a real alternative plan. And if Oba- macare is repealed without a new plan, 18-20 million Amer- icans will lose their healthcare.
That puts American lives at risk. And it’s just the beginning. Republican leaders have also pledged to remove the ex- pansion of Medicaid and insur- ance subsidies, which will send the number of uninsured Americans soaring to 27 mil- lion, and then to 32 million by 2026. That’s according to the
Congressional Budget Office. It gets worse. In a vote last week Senate Republicans made it clear they will not save the
healthcare act’s most impor- tant measures.
Under Obamacare, you could not be refused coverage for a so-called “pre-existing condition.”
Senate Republicans used their majority to vote against saving that provision. They also voted against saving guaran- teed coverage for children and for contraceptives, and for al- lowing children to be covered by their parents' insurance up to age 25.
The Affordable Care Act is not perfect. Many of us hoped for a single payer system, as is the case in most advanced countries. But we will settle for any fair plan that ensures every American can get healthcare when they need it.
Under the Affordable Healthcare Act, members of Congress and their families could sign up with the Health exchanges like everyone else, with a federal subsidy.
Sen. Jeff Merkley, for ex- ample, signed up for the Ore- gon Health Plan and refused to take his federal subsidy.
But Sen Ted Cruz who is at the forefront of the repeal ef- fort, did not need to. He gets his healthcare through his wife’s employer— Goldman Sachs. So it’s not enough to say, ‘We’ll be happy to take what- ever Congress gives itself.” Be- cause our millionaire and billionaire leaders have all kinds of money to take care of their own health needs.
Nevertheless, the outcry against the repeal is growing, as people across the country real- ize how much damage it will cause. Lawmakers already are hearing healthcare appeals that would break the heart of any feeling person.
As we move into this un- charted territory, Oregon law- makers nationally and with state leadership from Gov. Kate Brown are at the fore- front of the fight to keep health- care for all Americans. They can’t do it without our support.
2017 is not a year to slink away and lick our wounds. It is time to make our voices heard. This year, more than ever, we need to rally, march, speak out and build bridges with red state allies who can hold our political leaders to account.
Wake up Americans. It’s time to take the fight to Wash- ington.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif., and Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis. listen during a news conference on President Barack Obama's signature healthcare law, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
PAGE 4 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2017