Snapshots in History

Significant moments in history sometimes pass us by without notice. Sometimes those moments are so significant that the currents of history will not allow them to go unnoticed.

I have long wondered if I lived in the time of Lincoln, would I have appreciated the significance of the Lincoln-Douglass debates and would I have the presence of mind to attend. From this vantage point with the full historical knowledge of all that has transpired in the nation's lengthy struggle with the institution of slavery, it is easy to want to believe that one would.

Yesterday I took time before my scheduled speech to student leaders on the university campus to try to grasp the moment when I ventured outside to observe a speech. The event did indeed hold significance. Much more so than even I expected. What I also did not expect was that this observer would be swept into the historical vortex by the simple fact that I was present and observing it. A strange situation indeed.

It is the silly season. Campaigns do their best to twist motives and events. Perspective can be lost on some. With the passage of time however they will wish, like those I have suggested from Lincoln's time, to have grasped the importance of the moment that escaped them.

When asked, my observations from yesterday were simple and straightforward, the level of passion in the movement directed by one presidential candidate appears to be stronger than the other. In the Texas prima-caucus system as it currently exists there are consequences likely to result in one candidate winning the popular vote while the other may win a majority of the delegates from the state. This coupled with other events have consequences.

History, with time for our perspective to judge it, will be the final judge. When the sillyness and passions subside perhaps we will all find comfort in that knowledge.



UPDATE:

Houston Chronicle
June 07, 2008

"Delegate count official

It's official. Barack Obama will have 38 national convention delegates from Texas based on the caucus/convention system, while Hillary Rodham Clinton will receive 29 delegates.

Clinton won the most delegates in the primary: 65-61. Clinton today is expected to endorse Obama for the presidential nomination, which he clinched on Tuesday.

Texas Democratic Convention Chairman Kirk Watson announced that 7,239 delegates signed in with a presidential preference. There were 3,088 for Clinton and 4,144 for Obama."

FURTHER UPDATE:

Now that my local and the national primary are behind us, with that chapter of history confirmed, I look forward to attending the Democratic National Convnetion in Denver as an elected national delegate. I will do my best to keep you informed on the final chapters of this campaign to elect the next president of our country.