History was made last night. The first African-American President. The first President born in Hawaii. The first time in years that I've been proud of my country. (yes, I said it. Worse - I meant it.) I've been ashamed of our foreign policy and our President for a long time, and was amazed that he was re-elected. There seemed to be so much ignorance and false knowledge, so little political and social awareness. We elected a blunt instrument to bash things for us. Ironically, like a political Britney Spears, Bush did exactly what everyone seemed to know he would, then we hated and berated him for it.
But this is the meaning behind the HOPE slogan of this campaign - that we don't have to see the worst in people, that we can rise above petty arguments and bigotry and FIX THIS SHITHOLE we've dug for ourselves. For EVERYBODY. The soft spoken older man (Democrat I think) who's always on the CNN panels said the main comment that sticks in my head. I paraphrase:
Think of the difference in the world's perception of us which just occurred. In the United Nations, we had Bush, a President that wouldn't even stay for other countries responses to his speeches. Someone who was a horrible public speaker and didn't seem to care. Think about the atmosphere in the UN chamber. Now imagine the atmosphere as the President of the United States walks in next year. A black man. An extremely intelligent man. A man who's lived in other countries than the United States. Someone who not only respects and understands our Constitution, he taught classes on it. Inclusive rather than exclusive. How drastic of a change is that?
Maya Angelou had a good interview this morning. Here's a snippet:
"I believe in the heart of every American there's the desire to belong to a great country. And look at it -- not just powerful, not just might, not just things, not consumer goods. I mean, look at our souls, look at our hearts. We have elected a black man to talk for us, to speak for us. We, blacks, whites, Asians, Spanish-speaking, Native Americans, we have done it. Fat, thin, pretty, plain, gay, straight. We have done it! My Lord -- I am an American, baby!" Why this man? "Because he's intelligent, Harry. I don't mean intellectually clever, I mean intelligent. I mean what used to be called 'mother wit.' He has common sense that is, I'm sorry to say, most uncommon. Because he knows that, together, we can be somebody. And he is inclusive, as opposed to exclusive. I know that he knows he is the president of every black person, every white person -- he's the president of the bigots, and he must remember that."Is Barack Obama not the embodiment of the American Dream? A mixed race family, raised without a father, living in several different areas, getting a good education on student loans, then refusing 6-figure salaries to help with community organizing.
I'm still concerned about what the future holds for our country, but for the first time in a long time - I'm optimistic. I have Hope.
These sheets check out. Can't be too careful in a strange bed. Could be a sealion hiding out in one....
Here I am actually in the Gainesville office. I just got done with a 2 hour long meeting, and as you can see, all the standard work items were there: free bagels and cream cheese, ergo chairs, phones, laptops, iteneraries, and enough hand sanitizer to swim in. I didn't stage this picture at all, just jumped in the frame.
And that's all I had time to document! I'm sure Caboose will be caught up in a few days and return to blogging. Keep on chillin!