remembering the 2008 elections
Note: this is kind of a stream-of-conscious recording of my evening, mostly for my remembrance. feel free to read though if you like. :)
"Occasionally, America gets to be every bit as good as its hype. It's thrilling to be around to witness one of those moments." - Quindlen, Newsweek, Nov 5 2008
I want to always remember this night: my first time voting for the president of America. And I am so, so proud to have been able to vote for the first African-American president.
I sat on my couch in University Village all evening, glued to the TV (tuned in to a very fuzzy NBC) and my laptop, constantly refreshing electoral college counts and talking to my mom on IM. Technology is so cool: we got to watch this happen together, even though we are miles apart...and discuss and talk and agree and disagree and affirm our love for each other. It has been beyond cool.
And now, Obama has won...what a night! The feeling is so big in me right now...I want to cry, I'm so so happy and proud to be an American, where finally someone of a minority has been elected to the highest office. McCain's speech was beyond incredible--he had the most beautiful sentiments, and was so eloquent in his calling for America to put aside party lines and bind together. We're so blessed to have people like him in politics.
My mom had some interesting thoughts on this night: she grew up during the terribly trying times of desegregation and the LA racial riots...and now she's seeing our first African American president elected. How interesting that would be to have the experience to see such large spans of time in history. Secondly, she observed how important the youth resurgence has been: she and her generation have become so cynical post-Nixon, and she said that our young hope has been so restoring to her. It makes sense when I think of it like this: that Obama's campaign has been for hope, that it would so strongly speak to young people and fall on hard ears with older generations. I hope that my generation will continue to hope...surely we are going to have corruption in our future, perhaps (likely) even greater than Watergate. But may we always continue to hope.
It's going to be an interesting few years. Will the way America is viewed change in the eyes of the world? How could it not? How will Obama's foreign policy be different? Will he be able to successfully advocate for peace? Please, God, please protect this man and his administration. May God's grace and mercy abide in our country-- in the hearts and minds of the people and leaders, in the ways that we listen to our friends and dissenters, the way that we love the neighbor and enemy.
And finally: who wants to take my bet that Obama will have white hair by the end of his presidency? ;)
"Occasionally, America gets to be every bit as good as its hype. It's thrilling to be around to witness one of those moments." - Quindlen, Newsweek, Nov 5 2008
I want to always remember this night: my first time voting for the president of America. And I am so, so proud to have been able to vote for the first African-American president.
I sat on my couch in University Village all evening, glued to the TV (tuned in to a very fuzzy NBC) and my laptop, constantly refreshing electoral college counts and talking to my mom on IM. Technology is so cool: we got to watch this happen together, even though we are miles apart...and discuss and talk and agree and disagree and affirm our love for each other. It has been beyond cool.
And now, Obama has won...what a night! The feeling is so big in me right now...I want to cry, I'm so so happy and proud to be an American, where finally someone of a minority has been elected to the highest office. McCain's speech was beyond incredible--he had the most beautiful sentiments, and was so eloquent in his calling for America to put aside party lines and bind together. We're so blessed to have people like him in politics.
My mom had some interesting thoughts on this night: she grew up during the terribly trying times of desegregation and the LA racial riots...and now she's seeing our first African American president elected. How interesting that would be to have the experience to see such large spans of time in history. Secondly, she observed how important the youth resurgence has been: she and her generation have become so cynical post-Nixon, and she said that our young hope has been so restoring to her. It makes sense when I think of it like this: that Obama's campaign has been for hope, that it would so strongly speak to young people and fall on hard ears with older generations. I hope that my generation will continue to hope...surely we are going to have corruption in our future, perhaps (likely) even greater than Watergate. But may we always continue to hope.
It's going to be an interesting few years. Will the way America is viewed change in the eyes of the world? How could it not? How will Obama's foreign policy be different? Will he be able to successfully advocate for peace? Please, God, please protect this man and his administration. May God's grace and mercy abide in our country-- in the hearts and minds of the people and leaders, in the ways that we listen to our friends and dissenters, the way that we love the neighbor and enemy.
And finally: who wants to take my bet that Obama will have white hair by the end of his presidency? ;)