If There Is Anyone Out There...
… who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer. Where were you last night? What’d you think of the speech?
… who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.
Where were you last night? What’d you think of the speech?
The Republicans got what they deserved last night, no doubt about that. Mc Cain ran like he didn’t want to win, and when you look at the mess the next president will inherit, I can understand why. I thought Obama’s speech was wonderful and I couldn’t help but feel proud that our country has reached this point. That said, I just hope that he will live up to half the hype that everyone has pumped out. I truly hope that he will be a great president, but reality has a way of crashing on the party.
Another point on the mixed race issue: part of the reason many people with both black and white heritage identify as black is because of our country’s racist past. When black people were denied voting rights, denied access to the same schools as whites, forced on the back of the bus etc. etc. etc. etc., society used “the one drop rule.” That means anyone with even some black blood is considered black. Many African Americans have some European history. Thomas Jefferson (and many other white slave owners, to be sure) fathered children by one of his slaves. And those children were born into slavery – their white parentage was completely ignored. There is a huge cultural precedent here.
Obama is inspires hope in so many of us, regardless of race. Thank you all for these wonderful posts. It’s been a perfect way to recap a perfect historic night.
I meant to say equality instead of equity, but it was a pretty expensive campaign.
PMMtenement – I can’t abide extremists of any flavor, whether it be doctor-shooting religious rightists or western-citizen-murdering talibanis. I think this election was a rejection of extremism in the US, especially foreign-policy-decided-by-what-god-said-to-me nonsense. To me it was an embrace of common humanity, reasonableness, equity. I think the religious extremists have in fact, after getting some of what they wanted, now realized they don’t want it, and their movement is not so coherent anymore. Its been weakened, they’ve been chastened.
I’m not a religious person, but God bless Obama and all of us sailing with him.
I want to join you all in registering my complete joy and relief in Obama’s election. I’m just back from being in north Philly working for the campaign for the last couple of days. It was a wonderful experience to walk the streets of these extremely poor African American neighborhoods and feel the exhilaration vibrating all around me. I was in and out of tears monday and tuesday after speaking with many people of all ages. EVERYONE wanted to vote, from little kids to a mentally challenged man who got lost trying to find his polling location and came to us for help. He could not read the location, and his id was burned in a house fire. Gladly we were able to take him to the right place, and he was even registered! We met a man with Kenyan ancestry who was so happy and proud he kept hugging us to share his joy. He was actually a Brooklynite who had driven to Philly to drive his friends to the polls, and was then driving back to NY to vote himself. Most people enjoyed opening their doors to us (even though the campaign has been on them for weeks-“It was ok for Obama”), to tell us they already voted first thing that morning and tell us how excited they were, and thank us for helping. If Obama manages his presidency anywhere near as well as he managed his campaign we will all be in a great place.
I wonder if there are still some “undecideds” out there.
Although there were some amazing lines (like the one directed towards those that didnt vote for him) – I actually thought his speech was one of his weaker ones (still far better then just about anyone else though) – too much ‘thanking’ and the whole ‘yes we can’ tag line section seemed disjointed. However given that he just finished the longest marathon in the history of man – it is understandable.
Overall I am happiest for the country – the 1st black president is of course wonderful – but ultimately the part that is the best – is that our democracy works (thank god) – no matter what you political persuasion, you have to recognize that after 8 yrs with a horrendous president (on virtually all measures) it is only appropriate (and in many ways necessary) that the country change directions. The fact that we as a nation did this – bodes well for the vibrancy of our democracy.
“It’s too bad we don’t have a good word for mixed race.”
lechacal, perhaps multi-racial? I’ve also often hear Eurasian for individuals with European and Asian roots. That sounds nice to me.
“Sometimes, I wish a thread would end with a positive post as the very last thing people read. Your 12:31 would be it. And also your post from yesterday.”
What are you saying, BRG? That I killed the mood yet again? 🙂
Well said, Montrose, or to put it another way, someone who looks black to the average midwesterner is black for purposes of most debates on racial identity. I have a couple of friends who I recently learned are “black” (I have known them for years and had no idea). They have been treated as white for all purposes except their successful applications to Harvard and Yale, respectively. Lots of ink has been spilled about the fact that a little bit of black usually makes someone black, but it takes an awful lot of white to make someone white.
In any event, if I saw Obama walking down the street in the Slope I guess I would probably think “black yuppie.” Knowing that his mother is white I honestly don’t think of him as black. It’s too bad we don’t have a good word for mixed race. I’m sure one will be invented soon enough, given that its relevance will only increase over time.