...and proud to be a Chicagoan. I have never felt such an intense desire to be back home, and it hit me the hardest while driving over the bay bridge last night to celebrate with my girlfriend. This hit me on the San Francisco Bay Bridge, of all places.. I wanted sooo badly to be running to the red line stop to get on a crowded el, get off on Monroe or Jackson and join the masses heading to Grant Park... This was like the Bulls winning any of their six championships in the 90s... the Bears in 86.. I was there for that.. this was so so much more.
Now, this isn't to say that all of Oakland and San Francisco wasn't set afire with car horns and elated celebratory shouts and cries.. You could feel the air pressure change from every SINGLE person giving out a HUGE sigh of relief at about 8:01. I happened to be just leaving my shift at the station at 8 pm, as that was when the California polls closed. Just as I was driving past the courthouse I voted at 11 hours before, I immediately heard car horns, yelling, shouting... the most celebratory sounds I have ever heard in my life. The election had been called. Barack Obama is officially president elect.
I ran home, grabbed some things, and head over the bridge to SF, just in time to catch Obama's acceptance speech on 9 giant screens where my girlfriend and some friends were downtown SF. It was probably the most remarkable event of my life.
I am, most certainly more proud of my country now than I have been for at least 16 years. We finally as a moral majority, recognized that our country was headed in the wrong direction with foreign policy and economic issues, and we voted in strong numbers for change. and in the process, as a nation overcame racial differences many of us feared could prevent Obama from having a chance at office... but we stuck with it because from the beginning, we agreed with his intents and his thoughts and his solutions. We've got a winner, here America, look at the reaction from the global community. Lets all get behind this man and if we criticize him, lets criticize his solutions and provide an alternative that's better and make it known productively. This nation has a long road ahead of it and it will take a lot of cooperation to drive this nation in the right direction.
This is a landmark in American History. A complete turning point. Way to go Barack. I knew right from 04 that you were the spirited leader this country needs. I am so proud of you, I am so proud of my country. Now lets go and get to work. We've got a LOT to do.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Proud to be American
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6 comments:
It was a defining, important moment in history that was so integral to our lives. And there was a second wave that came after the first, one that finally made me stop cheering and just smile; relief and Thank Christ That's Over...
After a few hours of pure bliss something cynical crept back in, something I had been watching on my 3 TVs and multiple computers over the course of the night. When I recognized it, it shot straight into my brain as the harsh reality it was: Prop 8 was defeated, along with several other states passing referendums and constitutional amendments against gay marriage.
We took a step forward, but we haven't crossed the bridge yet. And those white Christian Republican officers on the other side with billy clubs, guns, rifles, and large amounts of God-given money-influence are looking to beat some heads.
So, we elected an African American, and a goddamn INSPIRING president to boot.
Now, maybe sometime in my life, I'll be able to look out on my country and see truth, equality and tolerance and we'll have a high ol' time at the funeral for bigotry.
Yes, life moves on!
My Obama/Biden car sticker came down a few days after it served its purpose only to be rapidly replaced with this DIY sticker... don't get me started...i may have to start a whole new blog for this one... please borrow my graphic and use it everywhere you see fit.
Prop 8 is a whole other topic as well. As far as I understand, amending the constitution requires a 2/3 vote, not a simple majority... Prop 8 hasn't yet passed, it's not even a constitutional proposition in the first place.
My Obama/Biden sticker may permanently be affixed to my 1983 Marshall head, as an EXTREMELY LOUD reminder of this defining moment.
yeah... well my original Obama sticker from when obama's site first sold stickers still resides right by my license plate. It's a bit weathered, but that'll never come off. I figured two on the back of that little insight hatchback was a bit much :) and yes i've got one permanently stuck on my nord lead 2x right by the mod wheel.. when my brother was out here a month ago (he ...ahem... hired the skywalker sound's orchestra to record the orchestral parts for Volition's upcoming game, Red Faction Guerilla... I couldn't be more proud of my own brother!) /gloat
... anyhow.. i was afraid Dan was going to confront me when he stayed here, with my Obama sign in the window, stickers on the car and to top it off on the nord. well.. no. Actually I learned that he had instead of supporting McCain after Paul dropped out, he supported Obama, pretty much with no hesitation after really looking at the two side by side.. now he voted in Illinios, mind you but still... it was a bit symbolic of how obviously many Americans felt when faced with choosing between the two candidates we were left with. For him, the nail in the coffin was his picking *surprise!* Palin. First time he had ever crossed party lines in a presidential election to vote for a Democrat.
Ironically, I was actually driving from the east bay over to SF when I first heard of any mention of Obama running for president, (same way I was driving while celebrating his victory and giving out my first solid "YEEEEAHHHHHHHHwhoooWHOOOOOO!!!!!") way back when I lived in the sunset district, two+ years back... I believe it was talk of the nation, I know it was on NPR, but it made my hair stand on end back then... Maybe that's why I couldn't hold back my own vocal chords till then!!) I knew this man from the accomplishments he had made to that point and there was no questioning that his motivations came from his inner passions of maintaining a positive outlook while making just and sound judgement. There is no questioning the inspiration he is capable of filling the majority with especially during troubled times...
To end, here are some words my father just sent to a group of people he previously had been sending out anti-Obama spams to (myself included)... I'll spare the details, but the way in which my family has been able to support each other's differences brought out the most cherished words my father has ever spoken to me and has strengthened our father-son relationship to a level I never thought I could appreciate any more than I already did... I count myself as one of the very lucky ones born into such a strongly opinionated yet immensely respectful families. Anyway... here are my father's own words:
"For myself, I am very optimistic about our president-elect, his fairness, positive outlook and intelligence, his breaking the presidential racial barrier, his desire to unite our country, and about our system of periodically holding accountable our governing officials and maintaining a balance of power in our government. Let's be sure to pray daily for our leaders, our country and our military."
Everybody "prays" in their own ways, but I think the words ring loud to me. There is a lot of work to do and fortunately, work is what we all do best. All we need to do is keep ourselves steered in the right direction and continue to work our asses off.
Read this slowly -
I was born in one country, raised in another.
My father was born in another country. I was not his only child.
He fathered several children with numerous women.
I became very close to my mother, as my father showed no interest in me.
My mother died at an early age from cancer. Later in life, questions arose over my real name.
My birth records were sketchy and no one was able to produce a legitimate, reliable birth certificate.
I grew up practicing one faith but converted to Christianity, as it was widely accepted in my country,
but I practiced non- traditional beliefs & didn't follow Christianity, except in the public eye under scrutiny.
I worked and lived among lower-class people as a young adult, disguising myself as someone who
really cared about them.
That was before I decided it was time to get serious about my life and I embarked on a new career.
I wrote a book about my struggles growing up.
It was clear to those who read my memoirs that I had difficulties accepting that my father
abandoned me as a child.
I became active in local politics in my 30's then with help behind the scenes, I literally burst
onto the scene as a candidate for national office in my 40s. They said I had a gold tongue
and could talk to anyone and motivate them. That reinforced my conceit. I had a virtually non-existent
resume, little work history, and no experience in leading a single organization.
Yet I was a powerful speaker and citizens were drawn to me as though I were a magnet and
they were small roofing tacks.
I drew large crowds during my public appearances. This bolstered my ego.
At first, my political campaign focused on my country's foreign policy, then on change.
I was very critical of my country in the war and seized every opportunity to bash my country.
But what launched my rise to national prominence were my views on the country's economy and the need for change.
I pretended to have a really good plan on how we could do better and every poor person would
be fed & housed for free.
I knew which group was responsible for getting us into this mess. It was the free market, banks & corporations.
I decided to start making citizens hate these institutions and if they were envious of others who did well, the
plan was clinched tight.
I called mine "A People's Campaign" and that sounded good to people.
I was the surprise candidate. I emerged from outside the traditional path of politics
& was able to gain widespread popular support.
I knew that, if I merely offered the people 'hope' , together we could change our country.
So, I started to make my speeches sound like they were on behalf of the downtrodden, poor,
ignorant to include "persecuted minorities".
My true views were not widely known & I kept them unknown, until after I became my nation's leader.
I had to carefully guard reality, as anybody could have easily found out what I really believed,
if they had simply read my writings and examined those people I associated with.
I'm glad they didn't as I became the most powerful man in the world. And the world learned the truth.
Who am I?
Adolf Hitler
WHO WERE YOU THINKING OF?
besides that the first fact is dead wrong
(hitler and his father were both born in Austria...)
"WERE YOU THINKING OF SOMEONE ELSE??"
gosh, you know you might be shocked, but actually no i wasn't. I can however guess who that fantastical brain of yours was thinking of...
Thanks for the heads up tho, if Obama starts invading nations instead of calling troops home, or opening torture camps instead of closing them, I'll be able to say you warned me first.. I can assure you however, that will never happen... no matter how much you and Rush Limbaugh wish this country to fail.
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