Obama is uniting groups to work for good of all

The latest New York Times/CBS News Poll shows President Barack Obama "seems to be altering the public perception of race relations in the United States. Two-thirds of Americans now say race relations are generally good." But I wonder, has Americans' perception about race changed because of the leader we elected, or the conditions of our times?

Obama has readily acknowledged that his being elected as the first African-American president was made possible by those who came before him, including those who fought for civil rights. He did not run on the basis of his color, though he did not run away from it; rather, he won because he was able to understand the conditions of our times and to put into words what people were feeling and experiencing. He was able to reach out and involve the young, old, black, white, brown, red, yellow who had one thing in common – they are young in spirit.

Many are still dreamers, willing to risk, learn new things and not be stuck with old habits and ideas and who are constantly in the process of self-discovery. He is doing what leaders do in tough times: give people hope. He was able to rally that generation of young people who had not experienced the racial strife, discrimination and economic conditions of a past America. They are the generation that plays, sits in classrooms and hangs out together and is of every color that makes up America. They live in an America that is divided more by economic class than race, though the racial divide still exists.

This is a generation for whom —when asked to identify their race or ethnicity as black, Hispanic or Asian — there is no box to check that describes who they are. They are Americans trying to find their place in a fast-changing world with no borders, connected by the World Wide Web. They are children of the world.

While the Times poll focused on race relations, it revealed what this president and successful leaders do: set the tone and culture for a society. It's how they behave, and how they trust and believe in the people. As one white woman in the poll said, "With him as president, people seem to be working together." He brings a new way of doing business in Washington and the world. He is working to change the culture of conflict to one of reaching out to those who oppose him. He has been criticized for reaching out to other world leaders and shaking hands with America's enemies, but even two-thirds of Utahns approve of the president's foreign-policy approach, "listening to friends and foes alike." He is given credit for improving the United States' image in the rest of the world.

There are those ready to defend their particular issue and the status quo, rather than offering solutions for problems brought about by a changing world. They want this president to concentrate on one issue, though the problems are interrelated and call for a comprehensive approach. Issues change with changing circumstances; the strength of a society is how it solves its problems consistent with the values that built it and hold it together; how we treat each other, how we work for the common good, and a belief in ourselves. It's about us, it's a cultural change, and that may be the most important thing that is beginning to take place.

Change is not about one issue, or one leader. Rather, it is about how we view our world. That requires risking and having new eyes. It begins by perceiving the world not as it is but as it ought to be.

A Utah native, John Florez has founded several Hispanic civil-rights organizations; been on the staff of Sen. Orrin Hatch, served on more than 45 state, local and volunteer boards; and filled White House appointments, including deputy assistant secretary of labor and as a member of the commission on Hispanic education. E-mail: jdflorez@comcast.net.