Shiny
I can't ever remember feeling so optimistic and happy about the world.
I KNOW Obama is not a savior or a miracle-worker. I KNOW he can't fix everything immediately.
And the joy I've been feeling all week is tempered by the flood of anti-gay legislation that passed on Tuesday.
But I can't help but feel giddy about breaking free of the bizarro-world that I've been seeing in the news for the last eight years.
Suddenly, every time I read the news, there's something that makes me happy, instead of pissed off. We're still in trouble, don't get me wrong, but suddenly it feels like there's a way out.
It's not so much about Obama himself. (Although it's really nice to see a politician who speaks truth and who at least appears to genuinely believe what he's saying, instead of saying whatever he thinks we want to hear.)
It's about us, as a country, about who we are, what we will tolerate, the fact that NO, the world DIDN'T go mad, and yes, we do still have some control over our government.
So, I'm sure it will wear off, but for the moment, I'm really enjoying reading the news and feeling optimism, instead of fear and anger.
About anti-intellectualism:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/09/opinion/09kristof.html?em
A personal story about traveling abroad, in 2003 and on election day this year.
(Yeah, it's kos, but it's a blog, not news.)
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/11/9/04224/3123/139/657870
About the nature of Americans and the politics of fear and divisiveness:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/09/opinion/09kristof.html?_r=1&em&oref=slogin
I KNOW Obama is not a savior or a miracle-worker. I KNOW he can't fix everything immediately.
And the joy I've been feeling all week is tempered by the flood of anti-gay legislation that passed on Tuesday.
But I can't help but feel giddy about breaking free of the bizarro-world that I've been seeing in the news for the last eight years.
Suddenly, every time I read the news, there's something that makes me happy, instead of pissed off. We're still in trouble, don't get me wrong, but suddenly it feels like there's a way out.
It's not so much about Obama himself. (Although it's really nice to see a politician who speaks truth and who at least appears to genuinely believe what he's saying, instead of saying whatever he thinks we want to hear.)
It's about us, as a country, about who we are, what we will tolerate, the fact that NO, the world DIDN'T go mad, and yes, we do still have some control over our government.
So, I'm sure it will wear off, but for the moment, I'm really enjoying reading the news and feeling optimism, instead of fear and anger.
About anti-intellectualism:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/09/opinion/09kristof.html?em
A personal story about traveling abroad, in 2003 and on election day this year.
(Yeah, it's kos, but it's a blog, not news.)
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/11/9/04224/3123/139/657870
About the nature of Americans and the politics of fear and divisiveness:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/09/opinion/09kristof.html?_r=1&em&oref=slogin