“from Selma to Stonewall”
Ah, I love Michelle Obama! She spoke at the DNC's Gay and Lesbian Leadership Council in NY recently, and I have my own collection of Barack quotes but I'll have to start a file for Michelle too. I feel so privileged and so optimistic and just really really excited that we have such fresh, articulate, intelligent, and understanding people like Michelle who can connect ideas so fluidly and bring it all out there and have speeches like Obama's in Philly, finally, 21st century discussion of race and class and sexuality in mainstream media, issues framed in a way that me and my parents and my ex-hippie professors can all appreciate, in our own way. it's unbelievably powerful and empowering to have those convictions validated by such influential people. Sometimes i just stop and think, this is so surreal. being 21, being a woman, a "queer person of color," a former welfare kid, a current college kid, an idealist, being me and reaching adulthood in a time when i'll have the freedom to be myself, the support to grow, to get married, to influence others. i'll be able to see top political figures bridging causes i care about (“from Selma to Stonewall”) and experiences i have (so this is what it feels like to be represented? to trust?) and issues that were marginal five or ten years ago being enveloped into pop culture and i'm just so happy just thinking about it.
Ahk, after living in Africa, with what's going on in Zimbabwe (visuals), what continues in Kenya, (visuals), and what will inevitably happen in Uganda in 2011, I well up with this awkward reluctant patriotism, of sorts. Or just a gratitude, or understanding, of how lucky I am, to be here. There will always be things I know need to be changed, I strive to never be socially/politically comatose, contented to the point of immobility. but in this moment, reading about Michelle and thinking about California in the future, I have to also admit when I'm happy.
Ahk, after living in Africa, with what's going on in Zimbabwe (visuals), what continues in Kenya, (visuals), and what will inevitably happen in Uganda in 2011, I well up with this awkward reluctant patriotism, of sorts. Or just a gratitude, or understanding, of how lucky I am, to be here. There will always be things I know need to be changed, I strive to never be socially/politically comatose, contented to the point of immobility. but in this moment, reading about Michelle and thinking about California in the future, I have to also admit when I'm happy.