It was about 5:00 in the morning here when I got the message from my mom telling me that Obama had won (and also that Colorado had picked up a Democratic Senate seat with Mark Udall). I turned on the tv and watched as the President-elect took the stage and acknowledged his victory. The victory was clear: no hanging chads, no confusion- he had nearly 100 more electoral votes than he needed to win. As he spoke to a cheering crowd in Chicago and millions (or even billions) of people across the US and around the world, the sun rose in Albania- the beginning of a bright new day.
Today is a historic day that could barely be dreamed of when my parents were my age. Barack Obama woke something up in America that had been sleeping when he called for change. He got people out of their seats and out of their homes and into the streets and polling places. He told us that change was possible if we worked together and I believe him. Yes We Can.
I have a feeling that this will be one of the defining moments of our generation- like the moon landing and Kennedy’s assassination was for my parents. Many years from now my kids will ask, “Where were you on 9/11?” and then, “Where were you when Obama was elected?”
For the first time in nearly eight years, I was really proud of my county. And for the first time in nearly eight months, I really wanted to be home.
I’m proud of my country. I wish that I were there to celebrate with my family and friends. At the same time, I’m glad that I am here; working to help people that need me and showing this little corner of the world that there are Americans out there that believe in change- believe in peace, believe in development, believe in the power of people. Today showed the world that a lot more Americans think this way too and that tomorrow will be another bright new day.
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5 comments:
I still don't understand concretely what change was being promised by the Obama campaign. A bright new day of what? What's that metaphor referring to?
I'm with you. Today feels different and it may well be that defining moment you talked about. I don't know if President Obama will be a great leader or not, but the spirit of activism and enthusism could lead lots of other people to do smaller, great things that will amount to a whole lot of goodness for America.
Or, that is what I hope comes of it.
If nothing else, the election of an african-american president and the engagement of so many otherwise disenfranchised people is amazing and wonderful.
Yeah!
Write on! (pun intended) Your final paragraph says it all. We have crossed a Rubicon.
It is a defining moment. At the same time, it frustrates me that we (my parents' generation, actually) have passed this way before (1930 & 1932) because the neo-con(vict)s have been able to snooker the American people over the last 28 years into forgetting why the Great Depression happened, and whose fault it was. With a tip of the hat to de Toqueville (I think?), those who revise history condemn our children to repeat it.
The Republicans,and some Democratic leaders, must now understand that what the people said yesterday is that they want a regulated market economy that can protect them, as the New Deal programs did for 7 decades, from the kind of disaster we are now in. Bi-partisanship is a fine idea. Winston Churchill once said "In victory, magnaminity". I am more than willing to give Obama and the Democrats in Congress lots of space to reach accomodation with the right, but not infinite space. At some point, THEY must compromise with US.
I don't know if you saw McCain's concession speech last night, but that was the McCain we used to know. For that brief and shining moment last night, we saw the McCain that we almost could have voted for in 2000. He never actually controlled his own campaign, and as a result was hog-tied by his handlers.
OOPS! It was Santayana.
I feel like we've turned a corner.
It feels like the things I believe in have a voice that's stronger than ever, and that is an exciting prospect! We as a country have difficult tasks ahead of us and it will take strong leadership to lead us on that path. I won't agree with everything that Obama will do as president but it seems to me that he is the right person for the job.
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