Focus on Our Thoughts
Nov 6 2008
Written by Pepe, Scottsdale, AZ
A Renewed Sense of Optimism
Obama won. John McCain conceded. I saw this before calling it a night on Tuesday and drifting off to sleep. As the network flashed around showing images of people celebrating in Chicago, Florida, New York, other cities and of course in Kenya.
I was struck by the diversity of people, mostly African-Americans celebrating in the streets of US cities. People cheered, cried, jumped and danced with joy. I had a flashback sense of seeing images on TV as a kid when MLK gave his “I Have a Dream” speech, and when Bobby Kennedy was heralding his way across the country. There was something hopeful and heartfelt there.
These people were like me, they weren’t the “other side” or the powerful…this meant hope. It means hope. Even in my jaded adulthood I completely understand the hope that people have been talking about for months and especially their expectations now. I may not fully agree with the unbridled spirit or outwardly show my excitement but it’s there. It’s that inner sense of pride. Again a sense of hope.
If anything, maybe that hope lives in the fact that a majority of the country- the non-powerful, woke up today with a sense of of optimism they hadn’t felt for a while. It’s a nice break from the bleak snapshot of our economic spreadsheet and the daily news. It’s about us and the future.
I was impressed and intrigued that people were dancing and celebrating in Kenya for Obama, for the United States, for us. There’s a national pride that is manifesting today, not only in our country but in other countries as well. Whether we like to admit it or not, what we do and how we lead affects the rest of the world. It’s easy for us to say that we could “give a damn” what other countries think of us and our elections but for better or worse, it does affect the rest of the world.
It’s easy for us to say that we could “give a damn” what other countries think of us and our elections but for better or worse, it does affect the rest of the world.
When JFK was president, Catholics and Irish Americans were joyful and proud. I’m not sure if people in Ireland were celebrating; JFK was not first generation. I know that people around the world mourned his death.
The people celebrating in Kenya made an impression on me- they were joyous, much like I was (with the exception of dancing in the streets) for their “Son of the Soil”. This towards a man that many African Americans were labeling as “not black enough” to be a true leader and spokesman for them.
I’m sure that when Barack was a kid, when he was in law school, when he was entering his profession; discrimination still saw him as a black man. It wouldn’t be surprising if there were those who were intimidated or jealous of his intelligence and his tenacity. I’m sure some saw him as “uppity”.
I see hope and optimism renewed in this country, for today, tomorrow and next week at least. There’s a beauty in expanding the national vocabulary, learning to pronounce a name that isn’t as regally European and mainstream as other presidents’ names have been. With this expanded vocabulary comes an expanded mind, hopefully one that’s more open. More positive and thinking about our future and our children’s future. That future begins today.
Lead Photo: EPA, Body Photo: Reuters
Obama won. John McCain conceded. I saw this before calling it a night on Tuesday and drifting off to sleep. As the network flashed around showing images of people celebrating in Chicago, Florida, New York, other cities and of course in Kenya.
I was struck by the diversity of people, mostly African-Americans celebrating in the streets of US cities. People cheered, cried, jumped and danced with joy. I had a flashback sense of seeing images on TV as a kid when MLK gave his “I Have a Dream” speech, and when Bobby Kennedy was heralding his way across the country. There was something hopeful and heartfelt there.
These people were like me, they weren’t the “other side” or the powerful…this meant hope. It means hope. Even in my jaded adulthood I completely understand the hope that people have been talking about for months and especially their expectations now. I may not fully agree with the unbridled spirit or outwardly show my excitement but it’s there. It’s that inner sense of pride. Again a sense of hope.
If anything, maybe that hope lives in the fact that a majority of the country- the non-powerful, woke up today with a sense of of optimism they hadn’t felt for a while. It’s a nice break from the bleak snapshot of our economic spreadsheet and the daily news. It’s about us and the future.
I was impressed and intrigued that people were dancing and celebrating in Kenya for Obama, for the United States, for us. There’s a national pride that is manifesting today, not only in our country but in other countries as well. Whether we like to admit it or not, what we do and how we lead affects the rest of the world. It’s easy for us to say that we could “give a damn” what other countries think of us and our elections but for better or worse, it does affect the rest of the world.
It’s easy for us to say that we could “give a damn” what other countries think of us and our elections but for better or worse, it does affect the rest of the world.
When JFK was president, Catholics and Irish Americans were joyful and proud. I’m not sure if people in Ireland were celebrating; JFK was not first generation. I know that people around the world mourned his death.
The people celebrating in Kenya made an impression on me- they were joyous, much like I was (with the exception of dancing in the streets) for their “Son of the Soil”. This towards a man that many African Americans were labeling as “not black enough” to be a true leader and spokesman for them.
I’m sure that when Barack was a kid, when he was in law school, when he was entering his profession; discrimination still saw him as a black man. It wouldn’t be surprising if there were those who were intimidated or jealous of his intelligence and his tenacity. I’m sure some saw him as “uppity”.
I see hope and optimism renewed in this country, for today, tomorrow and next week at least. There’s a beauty in expanding the national vocabulary, learning to pronounce a name that isn’t as regally European and mainstream as other presidents’ names have been. With this expanded vocabulary comes an expanded mind, hopefully one that’s more open. More positive and thinking about our future and our children’s future. That future begins today.
Lead Photo: EPA, Body Photo: Reuters
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1 Comments
Nov 7 2008
Written by Omar
I agree with your sense of hope/optimism. I think if anybody can get everybody or most people on the same page it’s Obama. I think one of the more powerful things he said in his acceptance speech on Tuesday was:
“And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices. I need your help. And I will be your president, too.”
This shows he knows how to reach out and understands the task at hand....