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It's a brand new day.
Nov. 5th, 2008 12:22 pmCNN's front page headline: "World cheers Obama landslide"
It gives me goosebumps.
Maynard voted for Obama over McCain 3,547 to 1,966. And one of those 3,547 votes was mine.
There was such a feeling of determination and hope in the air yesterday but the more the day wore on, the more anxious I got. I couldn't help remembering the feeling of defeat the last time around, walking into work and seeing the grim faces of my co-workers. I couldn't help thinking, "What if it's still not enough?" I almost stopped off at the liquor store on my way home, I was that wound up. I'm glad I retreated into gaming because instead of a couple of tense hours in front of the tv, I hung out with my friends and every time Obama won a state, my friend Brett would announce it over the headset. When he said, "Obama just took Ohio." with awe in his voice, I thought I was dreaming. We all signed off just before 11 pm so that we could see the West coast results start coming in and then it was real. It was really real.
I was pretty much an emotional wreck yesterday (okay, today too), but the thing that made me lose it completely was seeing Jesse Jackson in the crowd in Chicago with tears streaming down his face. My Dad admired him so much and wanted desperately for him to become President. Monday was the anniversary of my Dad's death and there have been some dark moments in this country in the last 8 years when I thought to myself, "I'm glad he didn't have to see this." But that moment? He would have been so proud.
I know that there were also some disappointments yesterday. I'm sad for my friends in California - hell, everywhere, really - that there are still people out there that can't just let love be love. But we can fix it. I have hope. For the first time in a really long time, I believe that tomorrow will be better than today.
And the day after that? Will be even better.
And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright --tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope. --President-elect Barack Obama
It gives me goosebumps.
Maynard voted for Obama over McCain 3,547 to 1,966. And one of those 3,547 votes was mine.
There was such a feeling of determination and hope in the air yesterday but the more the day wore on, the more anxious I got. I couldn't help remembering the feeling of defeat the last time around, walking into work and seeing the grim faces of my co-workers. I couldn't help thinking, "What if it's still not enough?" I almost stopped off at the liquor store on my way home, I was that wound up. I'm glad I retreated into gaming because instead of a couple of tense hours in front of the tv, I hung out with my friends and every time Obama won a state, my friend Brett would announce it over the headset. When he said, "Obama just took Ohio." with awe in his voice, I thought I was dreaming. We all signed off just before 11 pm so that we could see the West coast results start coming in and then it was real. It was really real.
I was pretty much an emotional wreck yesterday (okay, today too), but the thing that made me lose it completely was seeing Jesse Jackson in the crowd in Chicago with tears streaming down his face. My Dad admired him so much and wanted desperately for him to become President. Monday was the anniversary of my Dad's death and there have been some dark moments in this country in the last 8 years when I thought to myself, "I'm glad he didn't have to see this." But that moment? He would have been so proud.
I know that there were also some disappointments yesterday. I'm sad for my friends in California - hell, everywhere, really - that there are still people out there that can't just let love be love. But we can fix it. I have hope. For the first time in a really long time, I believe that tomorrow will be better than today.
And the day after that? Will be even better.
And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright --tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope. --President-elect Barack Obama
