This land is your land.
This land is my land.
From California...to the New York island.
From the Redwood Forest...to the Gulf Stream waters,
I am heartened. I am hopeful. I am humbled. I am happy.
Barack Obama has shown us that we still live in a meritocracy. Not because of the color of your skin and not in spite of it, but through diligence, sacrifice and preparation, you can achieve anything. Anything.
I heard a saying that I love: Rosa sat so Martin could walk. Martin walked so Obama could run. Obama ran so WE could all fly.
"We" is us, regardless of race. We the People. The world will never again be so black and white as it once was, and that's a milestone my generation has waited a long time for. It's a milestone a Chinese girl in a white family won't have to fight for. When I told Freestone that Obama won, he asked me if Obama was the one with the really short hair or the one with the crazy hair. To clarify, he asked if Obama was the one with the fatter face. He didn't ask about black and white. He didn't have to, because the world he'll grow up in is multicultural and richer for it.
Tomorrow, it will be about the economy and the war and Wall Street and where to go from here. But tonight, it's about history being made. It's about who we are as a people. It's about us.
28 comments:
AMEN SISTAH!!! Well said!
What an amazing experience, watching history being made! I love Obama.
{{ducks the rock throwing}}
Tears in my eyes Circ! It was such a great feeling watching last night with my mom who, although physically active part of the civil rights movement was certainly emotionally part of it. It is great for our parents generation to get to see this happen. I think this is a bit how my mom felt about Kennedy. I was so heartened this year by the choices.I felt like both men truly wanted to serve and do good, couldn't get past Sarah Palin though--But we may have to buy Tif an extra brownie on Friday and ban all politcial talk!
He will be a disaster, not due to race, but to to lack of experience and extreme liberal policy that will ruin our great country.
Dang, I just got chills from reading your post. I'm proud to be an American today where race no longer matters.....
I've just got to comment on your Anonymous blog post. George W. Bush? Disaster? Yes!
Bravo to Circe's comments. I felt the same way last night and I still do today. Regarding the anonymous post, fortunately there weren't enough people like you to matter yesterday! BTW, why the anonymity?
My 12-year-old has been intently interested in my voting choices. Concerning the presidency, I hedged and told him that my vote wouldn't even matter, given Utah's historic party line and the way the electoral college works.
But I've reflected today how it was wrong for me to feel that way. My vote does matter, if only to give me ownership. Do I want my county to succeed? You bet I do. Do I need to have a part in that, to make an effort? Of course.
This is a simplification, but I think it illustrates my point: My husband and I once were at loggerheads over what car to buy. We ultimately went with his choice. In a way this gave me a passive/agressive sort of power over him because if the car didn't work out, I could say it wasn't my idea anyway. So there.
But what good does that do? Better to move forward and keep working together.
Anonymous, I've felt some irony within myself that it's easier to dislose my support of Obama today than it was say, last week. Yet please follow the graciousness of John McCain in his class act concession speech and do what you can to help Obama help America.
The choice has been made. It's easy to criticize a leader we never wanted to elect. "I told you so's" don't help anyone.
sorry. My long post appeared twice. My passion must have made me click extra hard!
One thing more:
When McCain conceded defeat and congratulated Obama, the crowd booed. When Obama praised McCain, the crowd applauded.
Looks like Anonymous can't bring us down. We're going to leave naysayers and fearmongers in the dust. We're moving on. Obama will be too busy fixing America to ruin it. Jennifer, your comments are always so eloquent.
I've never really been quiet about being a liberal Democrat in conservative Utah, so I'll try to be a good sport, but I've been basking in this moment since I voted yesterday, it's been awhile since I voted for someone for president that actually won. :)
I've been voting for 22 years, yesterday was different than any other vote I've ever cast, and only history can tell, but right now I feel I voted for the right man, at the right time.
And once again, anonymous had proved what is so brilliant about the American system, people can believe all kinds of thing, people can be too big of cowards to even attach their name to their beliefs, but we will have another in a long line of peaceful successions of power. Overnight Obama when from some people's candidate to "our" president.
It's all great, and I was super happy to see the McCain I've respected for years back last night with his concession speech. I don't think anyone has ever doubted that 2 good men ran for president.
P.S. It's really awesome to have the courage to stand behind your beliefs whatever they may be, I hope that for you someday anonymous. :)
Well said Michelle! I agree, McCain delivered on an amazing concession speech which rivaled Obama's acceptance speech. Chills again!
Very well said. I am excited that we have come this far in America!
I like what you had to say, Circe! Thank you for your awesome blog!
I listened to both speeches with tears in my eyes. I love our country and hope that everybody will put aside their partisan differences in hope of a better world. It was hard for a republican like myself to vote for a democrat, but he seemed the better leader. Mike and I felt the hope you described and loved how he asked us all think of what we can do to contribute to a better world. As a family, our vote was for the "Earth" we decided not to worry about our taxes. Ask Ellison....she'd love to explain.
So well said, Circe..it is a time for hope...more hope than this country has been able to feel for a very long time! Both candidates last night were gracious and respectful and that could be a beginning for change. I love how Obama asked for support from all of us to fix the many problems that face this nation. I voted for him because he brings new hope and he brings it in the spirit of collaboration not antagonism.
Circe, our blog is now private, so let me know if you can't get in. This way, I can keep out the "Anonymous" people. You have to wonder who reads our blogs....
David
Hi Circe,
I can't go next Monday because I will be working but what about the following Monday, November 17? We could see if other moms and and girls and sibs want to meet us there as well?? Glad you liked Ghina Ghosts. I can't stop reading Silent Tears..almost done. I have the other one if you would like to read it.
Wow! I had to come back and see what sort of reaction you got, I had a feeling there would be one. I am so glad I have such classy friends. Between you and Sarah you put it perfectly!
I was so happy on Tuesday night (Jason not so happy). And then my kids came home from school on Wednesday and told me all the horrible rumors and things the other kids were saying about our new president elect. I felt like crying. Hopefully he will change this country in a way that all the skeptics will have to stand back and be as gracious as John Mccain was in his concession speech. I hope we can all learn from Obama's high road. (Ok, stepping off my soapbox). Luckily, due to many heated discussions around the fife household in the last month, my kids were fully equipped to clarify the rumors and mean words.....I am proud to be an American today.
ps...where do all of you obama voters live!!!! come out, come out wherever you are. My Kaysville neighborhood is not so down with my opinions....can I meet some of you so I don't feel like such an island?
I am not a fan at all of Barak Obama. However, I hope that people of every color will see that there truly are no limits. I must admit that I have been a bit surprised by the reaction people have had to President Elect Obama. I have long felt that every option has been open to every one. After all George W. Bush, the despised, appointed both Colin Powell and Condeleezza Rice Secretaries of State. His father put Clarence Thomas on the Supreme Court... and Oprah has more money than Europe... but maybe now.. now that Barak Obama is President.. maybe everyone will see that you really can go anywhere in this country... even the White House, it would be a marvelous miracle if they did. I wish President Elect Obama the very best.
It's been almost a week and I'm still totally THRILLED about it. Glad it didn't wear off. And it's certainly nice to feel differently about our government than I have for the past 8 years...
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