change we can believe in

alluding to dr. martin luther king jr's speech in washington 45 years ago to the day, democratic presidential nominee barack obama said last night, "america, we cannot turn back. we cannot walk alone." in the original context: we cannot walk alone because the freedoms of black and white, prosperous and poor, are "inextricably bound." and we cannot turn back, "we shall always march ahead . . . until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream."

as "postracial" as obama's language is, it implies that the goals of the civil rights era, of a change in consciousness and the right to justice for all, have not yet been met. also, much is being made of obama outlining exactly what he means by "change" but he also pinned down "hope" as not just a buzz word but a concept rooted in the christian tradition, ending his speech by saying: "let us keep that promise, that american promise, and in the words of scripture hold firmly, without wavering, to the hope that we confess." (hebrews 10:23)