What a Barack Obama Victory Means to Me
My candidate won.
For the next hour and a half I sat there watching the TV, reading the news online, and exchanging comments with friends. At several points, tears came to my eyes. I'm too young to remember the civil rights movement. I can't remember a time when a black child in a school, restaurant, country club, or even your neighborhood was unheard of.
So I woke up today and I thought, why am I sitting here today, feeling not like every election I've voted in since I turned 18, where I voted for the lesser of two evils, but instead filled with the hope, joy, and happiness at the outcome? What does Obama's victory mean?
Barack Obama's victory means that we elected a person who believes the highest office was an aspiration and dream, and not his birthright.
It means that the young people who we've so long dismissed as uninvolved, not civic minded, and more concerned about downloading songs to their iPod and playing xBox embraced the election and came out in force to vote.
It means that the whacked priorities of a small segment of religious people that desired to curb the liberties, rights, and happiness of people was rejected instead of ignored.
It means that people in this country researched, observed, and judged for themselves, rather than rely on the attack ads and hateful stump speeches that have characterized elections since before I was old enough to vote.
It means that a "black leader" no longer means the divisive Al Sharptons and Jessie Jacksons in this world, people who seem more concerned about image and publicity, but simply a leader who is black.
It means that people are no longer seeing the guy who lives next door or works in the cubicle next to them as black, but simply another person.
It means the Contract With America (which more often felt like the Contract ON America) has been torn up and thrown away.
It means that any child who feels his or her options are limited has a shining example of what love, hard work, and education can do.
Most importantly, it means that our country's values, laws, and beliefs, that all men are created equal and have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, are true.
Last night we handed Barack Obama the keys to the greatest nation in the world, which his predecessor will leave him battered, bruised, and divided. It is perhaps unfair to latch so many thoughts, dreams, aspirations, and symbolism to any one person. The days to come will be hard. But I hope that in those days ahead Obama leads with an example that makes us forget he is our first black president, and instead the first President we can be proud of in a long time.
Published by Crutnacker
Freelance writer and business professional from Louisville, Kentucky. Husband, father of one beautiful daughter and three annoying cats. Lived in Maryland, Boston, MA, and Louisville, KY. View profile
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7 Comments
Post a CommentI'm very glad he won. I so hope things will get better for everybody from now on. Excellent article, Crut!:)
Crut, I just found this so sorry its terribly late. I felt the same exact way or pretty gosh darn close. This past election meant so much to a lot of people but you put it very eloquently here hope, dreams and not a birthright. Thank you for summing up nicely. I think we grew up in the same time period. I cannot remember a time when color was a problem in schools, on the bus or at church at least not in my lifetime.
Well, that a black man has been elected as president in and of itself is good for the country. I am glad to see a black president, but I don't racially profile anyone either way. Regardless of the man's race, I look at the facts and ask myself, "is he what's right for the country?" There has been a lot of people who have questioned Obama's experience, and justifiably so. However, just because Obama has little experience doesn't mean we're doomed either. It can go either way, and I'm hoping it works out for this country. A lot of people are overjoyed and happy, but for some weird reason, I am more cautiously optimistic. Obama has a LOT of stuff on his plate and I hope that he can fix it. Kim, you said hopefully, Obama will be treated with respect, and I agree. I would also like to add that I hope Obama is able to command the respect of other nations as opposed to being manhandled by them. Immediately after he was elected, other nations began to "test" him. I hope he will be able to pass
I couldn't have said it better. Well done!
Crut...very eloquent. My co-worker and I were closing up, and watched the concession. I can't describe the feelings I had last night. For the first time in awhile, my vote was on the winning side. As a country, we have a long row to hoe...but we will get to the end of that row.
Outstanding viewpoint! I hope this will be the start of something good...
The historical significance of his win cannot be put into words. Hopefully as times moves on he will follow through on his promise to work in a bi-partisan way with the goal of uniting America. Although I'm saddened that John McCain will not have a chance to prove that he would have done great things for our nation, I believe it is every American's duty to support our President. I do not believe any president should be mocked or talked about in a demeaning way. Hopefully Barack Obama will be treated with more respect than President Bush has been over the last few years.