Election Thoughts
Sitting in chairs and staring at the radio (because we don't have a tv yet) as President Elect Barack Obama made his first speech to a nation divided.
I was in tears.
For the first time in my life, I am proud to call myself a citizen on the United States of America.
for the first time, I will NOT scoff at the country of my birth to citizens of other countries.
for the first time, I will NOT tell people I am from Canada, or roll my eyes and claim that the residents of the USA are predominantly a bunch of shepherded rednecks with no concept of possible change through anything but fear and hate.
for the first time, I think I can actually defend the country I live in. Sure, we made some horrible decisions, but here - look what we believe now!
Mccain was incredibly gracious, and his speech spoke of healing the divide and a battle well-fought.
We had to wait a bit for Obama's speech, but the fat lady sang, as it were, and he started to speak.
I will tell my grandchildren about the night I sat with my friend in our dining room to listen to the first black president of our country speak.
And how it was the beginning of something - not just different - but better.
Humans went from airplanes to the first lunar landing in a century. We went from Jim Crow laws to an eloquent, young, black President in less.
"What are we capable of now?" I'm finding myself asking. It's going to be a hard few months. People are bitter about the young man who has won the hearts and minds of our young nation. We're not kidding ourselves - the results of this election are bittersweet. Our economy is in the toilet while men and women in the armed services are fighting TWO wars the majority of the population of this country couldn't be bothered with now that their stock portfolios are tanking.
And, while our country showed the world last night that the color of your skin no longer dictates what you can do, we relegated another minority to second-class-citizenship in the same breath.
it looks like Amendment 2 has passed in Florida.
The shock, awe, and general elation that the USA has come together en masse, voted in record numbers, and made a - to some - terrifying and difficult decision is tempered with disbelief, anger, and grief that friends I consider closer than some of my actual family don't have the option to do what I at least have the privilege NOT to want. Religion was not part of the constitution, and I am loathe to believe it should start being incorporated NOW, even at the state level. As mature as it seems, all I can manage to think is "Obama will fix it...." I know it's going to be a difficult journey, but we WILL fix it. This WILL be a great, free country again - we've shown what great, horrible, and amazing things we can do when we come together as a nation.
And, for once, with this strange, eloquent, idealistic young father from Illinois at the helm... I have hope.
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I was in tears.
For the first time in my life, I am proud to call myself a citizen on the United States of America.
for the first time, I will NOT scoff at the country of my birth to citizens of other countries.
for the first time, I will NOT tell people I am from Canada, or roll my eyes and claim that the residents of the USA are predominantly a bunch of shepherded rednecks with no concept of possible change through anything but fear and hate.
for the first time, I think I can actually defend the country I live in. Sure, we made some horrible decisions, but here - look what we believe now!
Mccain was incredibly gracious, and his speech spoke of healing the divide and a battle well-fought.
We had to wait a bit for Obama's speech, but the fat lady sang, as it were, and he started to speak.
I will tell my grandchildren about the night I sat with my friend in our dining room to listen to the first black president of our country speak.
And how it was the beginning of something - not just different - but better.
Humans went from airplanes to the first lunar landing in a century. We went from Jim Crow laws to an eloquent, young, black President in less.
"What are we capable of now?" I'm finding myself asking. It's going to be a hard few months. People are bitter about the young man who has won the hearts and minds of our young nation. We're not kidding ourselves - the results of this election are bittersweet. Our economy is in the toilet while men and women in the armed services are fighting TWO wars the majority of the population of this country couldn't be bothered with now that their stock portfolios are tanking.
And, while our country showed the world last night that the color of your skin no longer dictates what you can do, we relegated another minority to second-class-citizenship in the same breath.
it looks like Amendment 2 has passed in Florida.
The shock, awe, and general elation that the USA has come together en masse, voted in record numbers, and made a - to some - terrifying and difficult decision is tempered with disbelief, anger, and grief that friends I consider closer than some of my actual family don't have the option to do what I at least have the privilege NOT to want. Religion was not part of the constitution, and I am loathe to believe it should start being incorporated NOW, even at the state level. As mature as it seems, all I can manage to think is "Obama will fix it...." I know it's going to be a difficult journey, but we WILL fix it. This WILL be a great, free country again - we've shown what great, horrible, and amazing things we can do when we come together as a nation.
And, for once, with this strange, eloquent, idealistic young father from Illinois at the helm... I have hope.
Author page
My diary
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