So much has changed in America, in the world, since last Tuesday night. We waited with excrutiating anticiaption as the polls closed and the vote tally began to come in. The first tally gave McCain a 16 to 3 lead, Kentucky, South Carolina vs. Vermont. As it turned out, that was the only lead McCain enjoyed all night long. But it seemed to take forever for the polls to close and votes to be counted. But when Pennsylvania went into Obama's column, a sense of expectation began to replace the trepidation. The McPalin campaign had devoted much of its final effort to the Keystone State, and a keystone it turned out to be. Obama carried the state by 2 to 1. But it wasn't until Ohio went to Obama that we really started to get excited. One of the classic moments in election coverage was when Karl Rove was explaining how Ohio was critical to McCain's chances, slim though they be-- when we was interrupted "uh, Karl, Ohio just went to Obama." Hooting and hollering and a mounting sense that our dream was about to come true.
It was exciting to be in Chicago for the election, though I did not go to the rally, opting instead to watch the returns at home with my family and best fiends. After Ohio went for OBama and we were waiting for the polls on the west coast to close, we bet at how many minutes past ten they would call it. I guessed 10:03 and other guesses ranged up to 10:15. Instead it was 10:00:03 CDT. And the celebration began. My friends were from Ohio, Minnesota, Iowa, and Virginia, and me from Colorado and they all went blue. And our work in Indiana last Sunday is most gratifying now knowing the we delivered Lake county. We were so pleased Indiana went blue, though we didn't know until well past midnight when the vote tally from came in. We were on our feet, hugging, kissing, cheering, stomping our feet, celebrating this most important moment in American history. We watched our friends, neighbors and colleagues en mass in Grant Park, as the camera panned the crowd for minutes with no commentary from the talking heads. The scene from around the country, from around the world was incredible-- a beautiful thing to behold. Seeing the tears stream down Jesse Jackson's face, the tears of joy from the students at Spelman College in Atlanta-- my own tears of joy! Words fail to express the magnitude of this moment.
Tuesday morning had dawned bright but chilly, a perfect autumn morn. The first thing I did that morning before I went to vote was hang the American flag in front of my house as I recalled Howard Dean's words from the summer of 2003-- "its time to take the American Flag back from the right wing extremists." And now we have. We watched McCain's speech from Phoenix, it was very nice and reminded us of the John McCain we had respected and admired before he sold out to the Karl Rove machine-- but true to form, his faithful followers booed and heckled when he mentioned Obama. He tried to hush the gaggle of ardent neocons, though they chanted "Sarah, Sarah." Yes, that is what is left of the Republican Party, and they got what they deserved. And so did we! A president we can be proud of. A man with intelligence and vision, and a rare eloquence. YES WE CAN!
It was exciting to be in Chicago for the election, though I did not go to the rally, opting instead to watch the returns at home with my family and best fiends. After Ohio went for OBama and we were waiting for the polls on the west coast to close, we bet at how many minutes past ten they would call it. I guessed 10:03 and other guesses ranged up to 10:15. Instead it was 10:00:03 CDT. And the celebration began. My friends were from Ohio, Minnesota, Iowa, and Virginia, and me from Colorado and they all went blue. And our work in Indiana last Sunday is most gratifying now knowing the we delivered Lake county. We were so pleased Indiana went blue, though we didn't know until well past midnight when the vote tally from came in. We were on our feet, hugging, kissing, cheering, stomping our feet, celebrating this most important moment in American history. We watched our friends, neighbors and colleagues en mass in Grant Park, as the camera panned the crowd for minutes with no commentary from the talking heads. The scene from around the country, from around the world was incredible-- a beautiful thing to behold. Seeing the tears stream down Jesse Jackson's face, the tears of joy from the students at Spelman College in Atlanta-- my own tears of joy! Words fail to express the magnitude of this moment.
Tuesday morning had dawned bright but chilly, a perfect autumn morn. The first thing I did that morning before I went to vote was hang the American flag in front of my house as I recalled Howard Dean's words from the summer of 2003-- "its time to take the American Flag back from the right wing extremists." And now we have. We watched McCain's speech from Phoenix, it was very nice and reminded us of the John McCain we had respected and admired before he sold out to the Karl Rove machine-- but true to form, his faithful followers booed and heckled when he mentioned Obama. He tried to hush the gaggle of ardent neocons, though they chanted "Sarah, Sarah." Yes, that is what is left of the Republican Party, and they got what they deserved. And so did we! A president we can be proud of. A man with intelligence and vision, and a rare eloquence. YES WE CAN!
When I rode my bike to work on Wednesday, riding through the fog of the champagne hangover, the whole world seemed to have changed. It was eerily warm for November, sunny and all the leaves were shimmering in their autumnal glory. As I rode through the west side, just as desperate as Gary, I was on Flournoy just east of Kostner, and there were three guys lurking mid block. Spontaneously we all raised our fists triumphantly in the air and hooted, one yelled "black power" and another yelled "OBAMAAAAAAAAAA". I felt so excited and honored to share this with my homies, as we all united in our jubilant celebration. It felt like a festival all week at UIC. people stopping people on the street to shake their hands or give them hugs. Tears of joy and much discussion flowed freely-- it seems that everyone is engaged, excited and HAPPY!
The sound track in my mind, through out this amazing ride has added to my goose flesh and teary eyed joy. On Thursday as I waited for the El, opting out of riding through the sleet, I heard Uncle John's Band on my MP3 player and I swelled up with pride and determination. Each of those lyrics rang true-- "he's come to play to the rising tide!" as the tide of humanity rises as one, a wave of positivity and determination! "Well the first days are the hardest days, Don't you worry any more, 'Cause when life looks like easy street, there is danger at your door. Think this through with me, let me know your mind. Woh - oh, what I want to know, is are you kind?" YES! no one said it was going to be easy. But thank goodness we have a leader who has the vision, and the kind gentle spirit to lead us home. Obama's campaign stayed on message the whole time and his equanimity was the guiding light. Well he might ask you-- are you kind? I do not believe those dedicated followers of McPalin can be considered as kind. All they inspire is anger, hate and disgust. It is heartening to hear some of the most ardent of them now sing the praises of the new day that has come to America. But like Mr. Obama said-- there is only one president at a time, and he does not become president until Jan 20th. Just under 70 days of W left to endure.
Other of the songs in this sound track-- triumphant, US Blues-- wave that flag wide and high! Yes! seeing the gathered multitude waving Old Glory at Grant Park brings more tears to my eyes and more geese to my flesh! "Red and white, blue suede shoes, I'm Uncle Sam, how do you do? Gimme five, I'm still alive, ain't no luck, I learned to duck. Check my pulse, it don't change. Stay seventy-two come shine or rain....Wave that flag, wave it wide and high. Summertime done, come and gone, my, oh, my" Such a fitting ode-- and indeed Summertime has come and gone. And-- Scarlet Begonias "Strangers stopping strangers just to shake their hand, Everybody's playing in the heart of gold band, heart of gold band..." The whole world is celebrating. From Paris to Berlin to Istanbul, from the villages in Kenya and the outback of Australia-- yes, we are the eyes of the world....
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