American antiques heroic figures stand out in our hearts and minds: from brave Pochantas befriending a foe, a Benjamin Franklin making a hurried sea voyage to try to fend off a revolution over taxes as Post master General of British North America (Canada and the 13 Colonies), a recurring American antiques battle whether over tea then, or oil benefits now; the fight goes on. And polls show that we mostly feel that wistful hope for a regular home spun boy of the land, who has struggled to not only survive but thrive when all convention is against him.



This is a wonderful and consistently uniquie American theme. And after the war of words that will be soon filling our screens, we shall see this fall: is this change or renewal perhaps happening again in the person of Barack Obama? Or will it bring somewhat less change, but at least sustained policies soon to be shown whether as renewal or not? We shall soon see. Only, incredibly now, a century and more after our first Mark Twain inspired Tom or Huck, is really closer in blood to Black Slave Jim on that same raft with the boys.

And this incredible rise of the black people in power and status in mighty America, from slave until Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, to President in 2008, is rare in history. If John McCain wins and displays his natural centrist positions and leads more like Eisenhower, or George Bush One, America's position in the world will begin to again draw friends and alliances badly belittled or ignored much of this past decade under the current administration, from the top down.

As Bill and Al were referred to as Tom and Huck, so Barack is as one of those on that raft. Even if in the case of Barack he is seen in the person of black slave Jim, whose cries for his wife and child, sold separately from him, caused the boys to wonder if their minister was right when he said it was a mortal sin not to return a runaway slave to his white master. It was well known that a black man was not fully human and could not understand deeper feelings such as love and loss.

It is truly inspiring that America has led the world from black slave Jim, to Uncle Remus, boxer Joe Louis, baseball legend Jackie Robinson in less than a century, and now half a century later, to Barack vs John as heavyweight champion of the world. Or that is, President of the United States of America. The greatest show on earth will decide which of many pressing issues facing America are dealt with first, and the world community is watching, hoping for the best.

It has been a rough ride much of this past decade, and most polls suggest that a more rebuilding and less bombing presidency is hoped for from the American people. The world agrees that a change is in order, to get us all more back to traditional American antiques virtues and values we all know and love.