I love history and had often whined to myself that I wasn't lucky enough to have lived during a more exciting age: I sometimes like to think that I could have been a Tuskegee Airman, Buffalo Soldier or beatnik. Instead, I grew up in an America that often felt like occupied territory. After freeing Europe from the Nazis in the Forties, and then blacks in the Sixties and women in the Seventies, politically, the next thirty-odd years have largely been a depressing, embarrassing, soul-grinding drag. Throughout those years it often felt like the Empire struck back and would never return this nation back to its people. So I escaped in my mind, consoling myself by writing about the Airmen and the Beats.
But last night history came to me.
I love those pictures of Victory in Europe day in Times Square: all the confetti, all the young women and sailors spontaneously making out. Last night Times Square seemed almost as jubilant as back then. My Manhattan neighborhood fifty blocks north erupted in cheers and cars and trucks honking and spontaneous street parties till the early morning.
Is America really America again?
My friends, black and white, had been so nervous about yesterday. I'd been relatively calm. If the polls had been closer, then the Empire's dirty tricks might have been able again to put their thumb on the scale and steal another win. If McCain had been a more predictable servant of corporate interests than they might have fought harder for him. In the run up to election day I was sleeping pretty well.
Then imagine my surprise when, upon seeing CNN pronounce Obama the winner, I burst into tears.
It wasn't my first time that day. The kids and I both had election day off so after going out for breakfast we walked down the block to our polling place. Chet, my seven-year-old, wanted to stay outside and play. Ava, ten, wanted to come into the booth with me. I didn't even really know she could. I almost let Chet stay out then remembered that I was about to make history and brought them both in with me. The older black women working the polling station were all atwitter around them, counseling me on the best way to have two kids help me vote. "One pulls the lever back, the other forward," one of them advised. She must be a very good mom. They all applauded when my kids went in with me and shouted, "First time voters!" Inside, I lifted Chet up, against his protestations, and we all flipped the lever for Obama.
"What's the matter, daddy?" asked Ava as we headed back up the hill.
I had to breathe a few times before I could speak.
I'd voted for him in the New York primary but didn't yet see much of a difference between him and Hillary. I really just wanted our side to win. By any means necessary. And as a progressive, her politics on key matters like health care, were actually much closer to my own. Back then I voted for Obama anyway because, frankly, he seemed so much like me. But as the race wore on he seemed to get bigger while she seemed to shrink (the same thing seemed to happen to McCain). Then his magnificent race speech in Philadelphia cinched my full-throated support.
The old century stubbornly clung on well past it's sell-by date as we all suffered under the B Team from the Ford Administration. Yet today, almost nine years into the 21st Century, the future finally, actually, begins.
All these years, all these years.
God Bless the USA.
Think for a moment of the incredible intertwining of karma surrounding Barack Obama, and the seemingly implausible dream of Abraham Lincoln. Their karma, surviving the span through hundreds of years of history and generations of people, to emerge at this point in time, driven by the masses, delivering unto us in the twenty-first century, this solitary man, who willingly, accepts the seemingly implausible task, of leading us toward a better future in America.
We are truly fortunate to witness an event such as this in our lifetime - the return of America to its’ own shores. And it is an honor to be here, as our country gives birth once again, to the ideals of a true Democracy.
~ Deborah Webbe~
United States of America
2008
So let us go to love and respect and let this man fulfill his promises! ktb
I sincerely hope that President-Elect Obama is an inspiration to children of all races that anything can be accomplished if you work hard enough. I wish him all the best in leading our country.
* A HIGHER CONSCIOUSNESS HAS PREVAILED.
* AND WE ARE ALL PART OF IT.
* EVERY PERSON WHO STEPPED OUT AND VOTED FOR EITHER CANDIDATE.
* NOW, WE MUST CONTINUE TO VALUE OUR VOICES AND UPHOLD WHAT WE HAVE ALL ACCOMPLISHED.
* IT IS OUR JOB TO SUPPORT THOSE WHO ARE FEARFUL OF THIS CHANGE SO THEY MIGHT JOIN US IN THIS CELEBRATION.
* PLEASE ALLOW ME TO ADD...HOW MANY YEARS DID MY PARENTS GIVE TO THIS MOMENT? HOW MANY YEARS DID MY GRANDPARENTS GIVE TO THIS MOMENT? HOW MANY YEARS DID SO MANY? THEY GAVE THEIR ENTIRE LIVES, FIGHTING FOR EQUALITY OF THE GOOD PEOPLE OF AND FOR THE WORLD.
* MY FATHER AND MOTHER, MY GRANDPARENTS, ALL, FROM CHICAGO, JOURNALISTS, EDUCATORS AND, EACH DAY, RADICAL CHANGERS OF TIME, PIONEERS FOR THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN, LGBT AND CIVIL RIGHTS. THEY CELEBRATE, NOW, WITH US, IN SPIRIT.
* THERE WAS NEVER, NOT ONCE, A DEROGATORY WORD OF ANOTHER , NO MATTER THEIR COLOR, SEXUAL PREFERENCE, RELIGION OR ECONOMIC ABILITY, USED IN MY HOME. WE NEVER KNEW THIS OPTION. WE WERE HELD TO THE HIGHEST STANDARD OF GRACE FOR ALL GOOD PEOPLE. AND WE ARE SO MANY GOOD PEOPLE.
THIS IS THE HAPPIEST DAY,
KATHRYN KEATS
( Abu Graub ) Rumsfield & Cheney. Sure..there will be some miscalculations, but let's give Obama some latitude..he has the potential to be a great President ! No more..'shooting from the hip ' comments ala Bush. ( Bring em on ) I've always wondered what Bush 1 & Barbara Bush thinks of their son. I also recall the JFK, RFK & King years. ( and 9 / 11 ) Those was horrible times ! But we got thru it..we always do. USA is still the best place in the world. Thats why so many fight to come here. I am proud to be an American...especially today. We have come so far !
First job, close Guantanamo!
Second job, fire the Fed
Third job, withdraw ALL troops from foriegn soil,
Forth job, Listen to other nations!
Fifth job, Admit your mistakes
I couldn't agree more with all your points, though it's hardly a complete list.
I believe that, if Obama is to be considered successful, he must engender a basic change in our view of ourselves. The USA can no longer attempt to push the world in the direction its ruling elites want. Rather, we must come to see ourselves as global citizens, extremely priveleged and therefore with responsibilities to act in the interests of *all* mankind, not just of ourselves. We can still be the "best country in the world," but not by dint of pounding everybody else into the ground.