Yesterday was the last day America had to vote for the 44th President of the United States. Most of my friends had either driven home early (Hannah Jacobs) or they mailed in absentee ballots (myself, Nick Mason, Greige Lott). I had been watching the news off-and-on all day, and even though the polls had been saying for weeks that Obama was a clear favorite, I was still nervous. I left for improv with the count being something like McCain 73, Obama 199.
We played games for an hour. Only half the troupe was there, but I think that was for the best. We did a lot of good warm-ups. And as we were walking out, my roommate Trey looked up from his phone. "We have a new president." My hyper-critical mind snapped to the correction "president-elect" and someone in the background asked who it was, but I didn't need to. I knew. Barack Obama, the senator from Illinois, had won the election.
And I walked outside. And Hannah called it monumental. And Greige yelled to the people yelling across the front circle. And I yelled with him. And we celebrated.
We walked, arm in arm, back to my apartment to watch the news and toast the new President. We had to wait on Kate to break out the champagne, so Greige and I toasted a shot and sat back to watch the punditry. It wasn't until then that I really looked at the map:
-Obama was at 297. He had won the election without Florida being called. I can't remember an election in recent years where Florida wasn't pivotal to the eventual outcome. But he could have lost it.
-Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Colorado, and New Mexico had all easily gone to him. The only bastions of the Republican Party were the places that couldn't expect to lose: The Midwest, the Deep South (though I'm sad GA turned out to be less close than people had imagined).
Then, we watched Senator McCain's concession speech. Say what you will about him, the man is gracious in times of trial and the speech was beautiful, simple, and conciliatory. I believe him when he says that he will still work to better America and looks forward to working with President-Elect Obama. And I could make catty comments about the way Palin and Cindy McCain were dressed (Yellow probably wasn't the best choice for last night, Mrs. McCain), but that would belittle what happened. I felt embarrassed for the senator when his supporters booed Obama. He's a good American. That used to not be a compliment in my world, but now it is. He's a strong man who will continue to do great things for this country.
Kate got home and we were about to move to the kitchen for toasts when President-Elect Obama began speaking. Some pundits I've read today are calling it, at best, an okay speech. Okay:
It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled. Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been just a collection of individuals or a collection of red states and blue states.I can't really speak for anyone else, but I was moved. I have not been an Obama-phile nor do I become touched very easily, but I believe. And we got up and poured toasts. Trey almost didn't come into the kitchen, but we invited him over. He didn't vote, but this is everybody's future, not just the people who helped decide it. And Hannah started and toasted to tomorrow and Greige to being proud to be an American and I toasted to a change we didn't think we 'd see for a long time. And ending those toasts, I clinked glasses with Trey, Hannah, Kate, Greige, J'Sprad, and Danny.
[...]
It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation's apathy who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep.
[...]
This is our time, to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth, that, out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope. And where we are met with cynicism and doubts and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can.
For some reason, I started tearing up. Greige looked pretty torn up, too. He grabbed me and pulled me into a hug. And we started crying into each other, almost sobbing. I don't know why. It just felt right. And I hugged Hannah.
We went outside so people could smoke, and Greige kissed Hannah and me. And I'm glad he did. It seemed like something that should happen...I'd wanted to kiss someone and celebrate...and I'm glad it was with someone that I didn't have to regret it. A few moments later, we heard cheering coming from in front of another building, so we walked over there, barefoot, to see what was going on.
It was another group of people out celebrating the election. They were playing a song about Obama on repeat, setting off fireworks, and just generally celebrating. None of us knew each other, but as soon as we saw each other, hugs and handshakes were exchanged. And we stood around, no one really talking, but everyone basking in the moment.
I turned to Hannah. "You know, in a lot of ways, I'm glad that I'm here rather than anywhere else in the world." "Why?" "Because it makes me happy to know that it's important, even here. Of course it's important in Chicago, but it's also meaningful in Rome, Georgia."
Eventually, we drifted apart from one another and walked back home. I made some food and went to bed, obsessively checking the new Senate breakdown. The diehard Democrat in me was praying for the magical sixty (non-Lieberman sixty being even better).
I know that seems kind of skeleton and not really a big deal, but so many things were said last night that marks this as a turning point. These quotes are from everyone.
-Obama is the first African-American president
-"I never have to live on the street again."
-"For the first time, I feel proud to be an American."
-"This is a monumental occasion. This is huge."
-"I was voting, and someone asked if it was my first time. When I said yes, the woman behind me said that they should film me because this was such an important time and she was so happy that I could participate."
-"I believe in America."
-"It happened. It actually happened."
-"I keep waiting for something to happen and for someone to snatch this away from me."
It strikes me as one of the greatest failings of my educational career that none of my professors cancelled their planned lecture to talk about the election this morning. Instead, it was business as usual. And that simply isn't true--today is not business as usual. Next to 9/11, this is the most important moment of the past decade. And sure, a lot of us saw it coming, but that doesn't make it any less huge.
And I'm tired of staying quiet today just because some people really don't want to hear about it. And there's a guy, I don't know his name, that sits in front of me in World Lit I. He's a religion major at my Southern Baptist school and he may be one of the best Christians I know. "I may not like who got elected President, but we're told to pray for our leaders. And if God is displeased...well, that's what got Nero killed."
So, here we are. And I can't wait to see where we'll go.
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