I've been a political junkie for the last many months, even as I had long since known who my choice was. Politics is a gory spectacle, but so many things seemed to be different this time, and so many thoughts have been running through my head lately.
I look back to 2 years ago, Christmas of 2006, to Bonnie and I standing on the beach in Kailua and Bonnie saying, "dudlar, I think that's Barack Obama." I did a double-take: holy shit, that dude IS Barack Obama. In a swimsuit, no less. (White Women for Hot Chocolate was founded that day.) We debated before we walked away: I said it was likely the last time he would have a private vacation, and we should respect his privacy. I was right.
Sometime earlier this year (February), I got on board the Obama Express when will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas took Obama's stump speech and set it to music with people saying it the speech along with him. I was stunned watching the speech. I realize how badly I was hurting from the Bush Administration in that for the first time since 9/11, I felt proud of my country. I felt hopeful. It wasn't because of the slogan, but because there was someone daring to speak for social justice without using the bludgeon of religion. It was someone with a vision. The video showed an america of all stripes. I felt like I could breathe again.
The next month, we had one of our youth conferences. The theme was Conada. We did some skits about the US and Canada, and uniformly, the US was militant, legalistic, xenophobic, hostile. The Candians were sweet and lovely and wonderful. I clearly wasn't the only one hurting. We have a no-talent show Saturday night, and it ends with the non-host country singing their national anthem. Three out of four times that's the Canadian, but this time it was the USers. We sang loudly and heartfelt. We love our country, we do, but my god, were we bruised and ashamed of how our country has behaved.
From then until now, election season has rolled along. I try to pay attention to the substance, and while I certainly watch the fluff, I also dismiss it. I missed the Democratic National Convention, but I watched Palin's speech at the RNC as well as both McCains - Cindy and John. I believe in John McCain, and I'm sorry he had to front the Republican party at this point in time. I watched the first two presidential debates and the vice-presidential debate. My opinions of all of the above did not particularly match that of the punditry. I eschew heavy-handed rhetoric from both side of the spectrum.
Something I did get much more sensitive to as the campaign went along is the absence of civility, which led to the absence of dialogue. When at McCain rallies people started yelling, "kill him!" about Obama, people were rightly horrified. But I was reading a blog that pointed out when liberal commentators refer to conservatives as people with their head up their ass, or as "right wing scum" or mindless idiots or whatever else, that's not much better. In any case where you demonize someone, it's pretty hard to have a conversation. Barack Obama set an excellent example with his own conduct. You might not agree with him, but he politely listened, and he gave you his thoughts.
I have been incredibly impressed with how Obama executed his campaign. I've realized in the last few weeks that he took the model he learned as a community organizer, and he took it national.
I started having a conversation with people as a litmus test. If you looked at George W. Bush and you thought of one issue you knew he'd always defend, is at the core of his being, what would it be?
How many of you said oil? He's an oilman after all, it's where his family's fortune came from. If you look at his actions during his administration, does that make sense? It does.
Try Al Gore. Did you say environment? Of course you did.
John McCain? Veterans and military, right?
Now, what would you say for Barack Obama?
Usually I got a big pause at this point. Most people don't know.
I say it's social justice. It's a Kennedy-esque call: Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country. Think about his background, his jobs, and his rhetoric. He may have to deal with the economy and the wars and all that, but what he really wants to talk about and work on is social justice.
Fast forward to last night, scenes from the country. Jesse Jackson crying as he waited for Obama to speak. So many people in tears - tears of joy, tears of relief. I know that a black man winning the White House has quickly become the story that superceded all others - and that is the biggest story - but there were many people of all creeds and colors who felt incredibly emotional about this victory. Sometimes you only realize how deeply you were hurt when the pain is at last behind you, because you had to shut off a part of yourself just to get through it. That's how it has felt watching the Bush administration for the last 8 years; while I can't speak for them, I suspect it is also how black people have felt since the Emancipation Proclamation. I respect the fiscally responsible, small government, individual liberty republicans. I do not respect the fiscally irresponsible, large government, government-will-tell-you-what-to-do republicans. Throw in their environmental policies and international actions, and there was little where I could agree with them. Last night the tears started the healing, not just for myself, but maybe for black people most of all, and for all who believed that "anyone" could grow up to be president. A man of modest background but extraordinary talent did just that.
The challenge will be for Obama to live up to his words - "For those of you who did not vote for me, I am your president, too" - and not to alienate the other side of the story. You can't please everyone, but in 2 or 4 or 6 or 8 years when the pendulum swings back the other way, I do not want those more conservative than I am to feel as badly as I have about my country for the last 7 years.
Last night we got the chance for change. The Democrats have been handed a lot of power, and they need to use it well and wisely. If they squander the next two years, I will kick their ass out the door at the mid-term elections. You have a chance. Go and do and do well.
But for the moment, I am still emotional about the potential and the possibilties. I am breathing deeply this opportunity. Count me in, count me in, I will take part. What does my country need me to do? I am ready.
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