What I Told My Sons About Last Night

Over the last seven years, it's often been hard to be filled with national pride. It required a lengthy explanation: "I love my country, but hate what my government is doing. I'm proud to be an American, but not proud of things happening in the name of America."

Well, I have never been prouder to be an American than I was last night. Watching Obama's speech took me back to my childhood in Chicago, going downtown with my mother to take part in civil rights demonstrations.

Last night, I was the parent, explaining to my sons that they were witnessing a groundbreaking moment in the history of our country. A moment filled with promise, and hope, and the power to remake America's tattered image in an instant. The instant Barack Obama is elected president. That instant, the world will look at us differently.

I can't wait.

Comments

[LutherVig]

I'm sorry but Obama is just more of the Emperor's new clothes. I want to be happy about Iowa. About a black man winning there. But as I look at this man's voting record and his message (Not sure what it is except "Change") I see a man who's come out on the side of big business and the status quo time and time again. I'm very sorry but I'm not impressed. And neither are any of the progressive people that I know. It just seems to me that this man is ALL hype.

[DrCalif]

I wonder when we're going to quit pretending that any of this matters anymore and start learning how to unplug from the empire and run our own lives and support our own communities, energy sources, and food supplies, all of which will remain in corporate hands regardless of who wins or who loses. Quit participating in the Grand Illusion, quit looking up to "leaders" to get things done, and get busy!

[LeoMarvin]

You took the words right out of my mouth.

[IndependentMeans]

I truly believe one thing. If Obama is our next President, it sends a HUGE message to the world. We are not a bunch of white elitists (though we have way too many of them) and we are truly breaking the mold. I believe this will garner a new respect for all Americans in the eyes of the world. I am proud and hope it is so. I would wish for Edwards first, due to his stance on health care, but can appreciate this moment in our history. I could actually feel good about America again, thought that was gone forever.

[Pneumaticus]

Oh, come on, his ears are too big.

[radicalcentrist44]

It is a victory, but 65% or so still voted against him. Now that he has momentum, I want to see how he uses it. With all eyes on him, I want to see if he can do something dynamic. I still do not really know where he stands on issues that are important to alot of voters (who are looking for a good reason to vote for him, even across party lines) such as taxes and national defense. Obama may have an opportunity like Reagan had with conservative democrats with progressive republicans. Also, Hillary is going to go on the offensive and she will get nasty. How will Obama respond? Any ideas?

[lamarguerite]

Same here. Never have I been so excited!

Obama transcends political, racial, economic, cultural, religious differences. He has vision, intelligence, leadership, charisma. He is in the tradition of the great leaders in American history.

http://lamarguerite.wordpress.com

[leftLibertarian]

The devil's advocate says:

Obama is a liberal interventionist and would continue America's meddling into other nation's affairs.

" I will not hesitate to use force, unilaterally if necessary, to protect the American people or our vital interests whenever we are attacked or imminently threatened.

We must also consider using military force in circumstances beyond self-defense in order to provide for the common security that underpins global stability -- to support friends, participate in stability and reconstruction operations, or confront mass atrocities."

http://www.foreignaffairs.org/20070701faessay86401/barack-obama/renewing-american-leadership.html

[expation]

I share your enthusiasm, gang. But after the deaths of as many as a million people in the illegal vanity invasion and occupation of another country (not to mention the renditions, torture, etc.) paid for with our taxes, and in the absence of any noticeable protest from the American people, the world isn't going to give a damn who we elect to be our president. Nobody is going to want our < 5% of the world's population to lead them anywhere.

As if that wasn't bad enough, the rest of the planet (including our closest allies) is now dealing with the aftermath of the clearly calculated exportation of subprime timebombs by our corporations and banks around the world when they realized just what a stinking mess they had created. US Inc, whose major exports are weapons systems, fantasy entertainment, fast/GM food, anti-depre­ssants/via­gara, and DEBT, is simply no longer regarded as a serious capitalist enterprise by non-Americans.

We have always been able, no matter how badly we've treated the rest of the world, to count on our charm, sending out another raft of feel-good films about how great America is, to assuage the anger of the people we've hurt. It's different this time, and the old charm isn't going to work - everyone else is sick of us exporting our problems, and the cost of our way of life, to them. Not only are we no longer cool, we are now beside the point.

We are also no longer feared nor respected - and, thanks to our perpetual wars, our Treasury is empty, so we're not going to be able to buy respect. None of the candidates except Edwards and Huckabilly seem to understand that we are entering an economic situation that could make 1929 look like a piece of cake.

After 9/11 we wanted vengeance on the rest of the world - well, we've had it, and now we must pay the price. Get ready to be poor and ignored, whoever our president is.

[Goldie9]

Sen. Obama will work to unite Americans, no matter which ideology they believe in... Dems, Repugs, Independs, etc. Will Hillary or Edwards be able to do the same with their agenda? Hillary is the GOP's favorite for target-practice and she will continue to alienate more Americans from following her lead. Edwards likes to talk about bringing down big corporations and their greedy ways. How exactly does he plan to do this??? Specifics please-- Thank you.

Obama is the one who will help us to rise above our fears and prejudices of each other, and the entire world will once again start to believe in America as the beacon of light!

Obama: the Great Antidote to America's current disaster known as the Bush years...

[tumblewind]

I have no problem with Obama! I will vote for him if he is the nominee of my party. I just don't think he can win a general election. I don't think Hillary can either for that matter. She has way to much baggage from the past. To much misinformation about her is out there. She has been bashed for years by the right wing lunatics. That's all too many people in this country know is what they are told by those lunatics. They will never get past the lies told about her.
But, let's face it folks. We live in a very racist nation. That element will come out of the woodwork to defeat Obama. They will pull out all the stops on him. It will be a free for all that will make the 'swift boater's' look like a walk in the park.
I think what is of the utmost importance right now is to pick someone who is electable! Edwards is the only one who can fill the bill. We need to get a ticket that the American people can vote for without hesitation. It's of the utmost importance to get the neocon element out of the White House once and for all. So we can start the healing of this country and stop the slide into fascism.

[LoRiseAntlers]

You're proud to be an American based on the fact that one of the media mandated candidates won?

You're pathetic.You suck up all the drool the corporate spits your way and then you fervently believe that a wonderful new day is arising.

Wake up,you moron,If Obama or Hillary manage to make it into the general election,they will be savaged by the GOP.They are the choice of the MSM for that very reason.

Be proud all you want,but shut up about it,you fool.

[Iceballs]

There is one person in this race who calls himself a "real" Democrat. But no one will listen because the kingmakers are trying to shut him out. He may be right for the country but if we do not listen how will we know. Dennis Kucinich deserves a seat at the table. It is another disgrace to our electoral system to exclude him from the forum.

[oldhickory316]

Let me first say I am an Obama supporter and volunteered for him in Iowa.

Now I have to say something to everyone here – STOP BASEING WHO YOU SUPPORT ON WHAT THE REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO DO! Right-wing talk radio, cable news pundits, and 527 groups will horrifically savage who ever is the Democratic nominee. So I don’t care who you think will be the best nominee, but PLEASE base that support on what that candidate STANDS FOR not because what you think Right can or can’t say about them!

[actcochise]

What a load of bull. Americans always find any stupid excuse to be "incredibly proud to be American". It's their pride that is the most dangerous. Instead of being proud, Americans should try & show some goddamn humility and acknowledgment that the US of A is NOT the (only) land of the free & home of the brave.

Now the pride-factor pendulum has swung to the hope-mongers rather than the fear-mongers. Alright, so far so good, hope is better than fear! And I can't stand Bush, Cheney and everything they stand for either. But hope is not a plan, and the US has so much ground to cover before it has made up for the 7 years of CRAP they have dealt the world. You think the world is prepared to forget about that because of a posse of flag-swingers voted for Obama in a mid-state primary? Get real - or, unlike the majority of Americans, get a passport to check how the rest of the world is REALLY feeling. Nothing could be worse than Bush, but it's time for positive action - not just talk!