Bob Schieffer and Harry Smith of CBS took a moment and reflected on the country we have been and the country we can be, following the election of our first African-American president.

With tensions around the economy, health care legislation, and frustrations felt by those who did not support Obama’s campaign, such reflection has been short-lived, or at least in short supply.

Bob speaks of memories of a segregated south and how for years many citizens of the United States of America were marginalized and dismissed as incapable of making any significant contribution to our nation.

Reflecting on the plight of the black citizen during his youth, he recalls how his hometown allowed “them” one day in the public park to celebrate “their day” — a commemoration of the emancipation proclamation.

That he would witness a black citizen being elected as the 44th president of the United States seemed almost surreal.  Yet even as he watched Barak Obama’s victory speech in Grant Park, Schieffer was haunted by memories of a time when tax paying citizens of color were prohibited from visiting a city park and zoo except for one day a year.