I cannot even begin to describe how excited and hopeful I've felt since Tuesday night. It's not that Obama won the election. Yes, I'm happy about that, but it's more than that. Partially it's because we grew so much as a country in one day. I kept thinking, "what must African Americans feel today?"
Speaking on "The View" Wednesday morning, Whoopi Goldberg remarked that while she's always felt a part of this country, she finally felt as if she could put her suitcase down. I watched Tuesday night as Jesse Jackson cried in Grant Park as he saw the remnants of the past fall. I watched as the people of Kenya celebrated. I cried as Dr. Martin Luther King's dreams came true: "I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." .. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."
It's more than that, though. So many people on both sides were moved during this election season to act. Not just to vote, but to campaign - to work to get out the vote. People on both sides said it's time to stand up and take responsibility for our country. We can make a difference. Even though only one side could have won, the actions of supporters from *both* sides made a difference because we acted. For so long apathy has ruled. No more. Even though there are people who are happy and people who hurt because of the results - APATHY has been beaten down. That - that is where we win. It's what had to happen for us to survive as a nation.
3 comments:
Bravo! Well said. Thank You for sharing Your heart.
Dear Lady Julia,
How true what you say about apathy.
Apathy in and of itself is harmless. It is when it applies to something important that the tragedy occurs. Apathy can be the result of hopelessness born of unendurable suffering or it can stem from a glut of comfort. It can thrive in a garden of ignorance or it can hide in the cracks of doubt. Apathy does not live, though. It is more like death. It molders. Whatever burns and cleanses it from my mind may not always be a good or happy thing, but that result that I am now interested in what I should have been interested all along is a silver lining I will take from any cloud I can.
Arafin
Both candidates helped this immensely Tuesday night with their exceedingly gracious comments about the other. John McCain gained points with me Tuesday night with what he said about Obama and with his attitude when people tried to boo. Both candidates spoke from the heart when discussing their opponent, and both said things that really needed to be said.
Post a Comment