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Nov. 5th, 2008 08:52 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gwynhefarI am so fucking happy right now I simply cannot describe it. I had hope, yes, but I don't think I really *believed* it could happen. One of my hopes my whole life had been to live long enough to see a black President and a female President. I don't think I really believed either could happen before I was 50. Well I got one of them 20 years earlier than I ever dreamed. I am so proud of my country right now, and I'm not sure that is something I have ever felt before. I have felt proud of what my country used to be, of its history and traditions, at times, but never before have I been really proud of what my country is.
Not that we don't have a ways to go. The one shadow in my otherwise brilliant glee is the passing of propositions like the bans on gay marriage in Arizona and Florida (and quite possibly California, although I still have my fingers crossed), and the ban on gay couples adopting in Arkansas. I'm disappointed that my state and even my parish went Republican this time (the first didn't surprise me, but the second did).
On the other hand, I was happy to hear McCain's concession speech. It was gracious and generous, and more like the McCain that I considered voting for way back when. I think it was telling that the poor man had to remonstrate his own people for their much less gracious reactions to the outcome.
And President-elect Obama's speech -- I had tears in my eyes. It was powerful, and beautiful, and one of the most wonderful moments of my life to date. I think I had to be reminded that despite the truly horrendous track-record this country has had during my formative years and early adult life, it has really only been about 20 years since I was old enough to understand what was going on. I must remember that when my mother was born, African-Americans still had to sit at the back of the bus. The Civil Rights Act that outlawed racial and gender discrimination was not passed until she was 9 years old. Now we have an African-American President. Change *can* happen in one person's lifetime. So I now have a new goal. I want to die in a country that I am truly proud to have lived in. I have to believe it is not an impossible dream. We took the first step last night. Yes, we can. Yes, we will.
Not that we don't have a ways to go. The one shadow in my otherwise brilliant glee is the passing of propositions like the bans on gay marriage in Arizona and Florida (and quite possibly California, although I still have my fingers crossed), and the ban on gay couples adopting in Arkansas. I'm disappointed that my state and even my parish went Republican this time (the first didn't surprise me, but the second did).
On the other hand, I was happy to hear McCain's concession speech. It was gracious and generous, and more like the McCain that I considered voting for way back when. I think it was telling that the poor man had to remonstrate his own people for their much less gracious reactions to the outcome.
And President-elect Obama's speech -- I had tears in my eyes. It was powerful, and beautiful, and one of the most wonderful moments of my life to date. I think I had to be reminded that despite the truly horrendous track-record this country has had during my formative years and early adult life, it has really only been about 20 years since I was old enough to understand what was going on. I must remember that when my mother was born, African-Americans still had to sit at the back of the bus. The Civil Rights Act that outlawed racial and gender discrimination was not passed until she was 9 years old. Now we have an African-American President. Change *can* happen in one person's lifetime. So I now have a new goal. I want to die in a country that I am truly proud to have lived in. I have to believe it is not an impossible dream. We took the first step last night. Yes, we can. Yes, we will.
