Today I have been suffering from a happiness hangover. Exhausted from euphoria. Granted, the parties, the celebration and the champagne didn’t hurt, but this hangover is from sheer joy!
Nov. 4, 2008 was epic.
It was a night of cheers, tears, hugs from friends and strangers, emotion and unrestrained celebration. The dark clouds that had hung over our country for the last eight years, the clouds of fear and repression, suddenly parted and let the sun shine through.
There is no better antidote for fear than hope. With the announcement that Barak Obama would be our next president, we stepped out of the darkness and into the light of hope and change. It was as if the whole world let out a huge collective sigh of relief.
It was the end of an era and the beginning of a new, brighter era. It was a sweeping endorsement of long-awaited change. It was a night when the torch was passed from an aging white power structure to a new generation transcending race, age and gender, with new ideas and ideals.
As a country we are tired of lines being drawn and not crossed. We are tired of the abuse of power. We are tired of lies and hypocrisy. We are tired of wars that are not ours. We are tired of bipartisanship. We are tired of being raped financially, environmentally, and emotionally. If we are going to tell the rest of the world how to behave, then we must first learn how to behave.
We want our laws and constitution to be respected. We want nothing less than our country to regain its luster and be a guiding light for the world. We want wonder and imagination, dreams and possibilities, not only to be considered, but ignited.
President Elect Barack Obama has the courage to blur the lines of color, whether black or white, red or blue. He has the desire and ability to set our country back on the right course.
Today, I am still holding on to the feeling of euphoria like a warm sweater, pulling it close to protect me against the difficult times we know are ahead. But, I am willing to face those times, knowing we present a united front rather than individual struggles. Knowing we will work together to make our country better, one step at a time. Knowing we can regain our pride, not only individually, but collectively. Knowing we can regain respect on the world stage. When I feel discouraged, I’ll pull that warm sweater of remembered joy a little closer.
Yes we can be the most powerful country in the world and still be a voice of compassion. Yes we can be the light of democracy. Yes we can lead the fight against tyranny. We are America. Yes we can.
We are all real Americans. Yes we are. And as proud Americans, we spoke in a loud, clear united voice. Yes we did, and we chose that one – Barack Obama!
Cheri Cabot, Politics Correspondent
Cheri’s column, “Personal About Politics," published every week, will reflect on how the life of a 59 year-old, middle class woman is affected by politics, policy and the current state of the nation - a look at the personal aspects of politics. The articles will be posted to Politics.gather.com as part of Gather Essentials.
Cheri is a freelance writer, living in Southern California. She has two grown children, one in Iowa and one at Columbia University, and is the proud grandmother of two. Cheri is also a purveyor of fine coffee, warm chatter and dry wit.
You can find all of Cheri’s columns on Personal About Politics at www.personalpolitcs.gather.com, or www.ccabot.gather.com.
recommend this
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 65
Boy...that had to have been one of the more exciting moments when Ohio went blue!
don't worry I have 4 years to return the favor of complaining.
Wonder how much his campaign had to pay her off to get this kind of coverage
I don't trust the man, and I don't expect change except for the wrose
Good bye democracy
hello communism and socialism
That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it
mooch
10,10,10,10,10,10,10,10,10,10,10,10,10,10,10,10,10,10,10,10,10,10,10,10,10,10,10,10,
10,10,10,10,10,10,10,10,10,10.:-)
It was a suitable occasion for champagne. Or even gold, frankincense and myrrh.
The only damper on the night was that voters in CA saw fit to grant additional civil rights to farm animals while voting to take away rights from groups of their fellow citizens. What the hell is the matter with people?
When ever that thought gets me down I just think of Libby Dole's remarks about her opponent being "godless" followed by her being booted out of office. That has kept me smiling all day long!
Let us stay in the Obama network and all work together for a better America where people bear the responsibility for themselves and where people care enough for their fellow man to take care for those who cannot physically or mentally bear responsibility for themselves. May the force be with us.
immoral, heartless, illegitimate, and usurping administration must start in earnest.
As Senator (and President Elect) Obama said, it will not be done in a year nor in 1 term.
It took 8 years of Srubdom to nearly destroy this Nation.
It will be extremely hard to put the pieces back in place.
Patience is key.
with convenient memory loss that fail to admit just WHO nearly destroyed this economy, WHO illegally invaded Iraq and caused the deaths of Tens of Thousands standing on the side lines hurling verbal molotov cocktails and worse.
Those who can't bear to own up to the Truth of what has REALLY taken place these past 8 years.
May the Universe deliver unto them the swift memory reboot that is so sadly needed in their lives.
I have been so used to eating s&$t for the last eight years that I had forgotten what it feels like to be not only hopeful but actually optimistic that my tuition will not be money spent in vain. I will actually be able to pay it off and put it to good use.
We will see. There is a long way to go, but this is the first step and the first step is always the most difficult. We are on our way now regardless of the uphill battle.
Of the enduring power of hope...
Obama's new dawn
Can we cast a 'wet blanket' on people like Marilyn? ;>P
Now let's roll up our sleeves and get busy. We've got a long way to go, and a short time to get there.
It is sad for your kind that the "the hell with the rest of America" party is basically now on life support.
Me I think it's great.
I am glad that we will have a Hope and Change Uniter in the White House; while I also worry about what trouble resistors will supply. I pray that Barack will be Centrist enough to keep the nation together.
It certainly was a milestone election.
With Hope, I remain hopeful.
Now the tough part starts. Obama faces a disaster left behind by the BCC, and it will not be cleared up overnight. The first few years of his presidency will be beset by troubles and progress will be two-steps-forward-and-one-step-back at best. Those who do not revel in the election results will do their best to blame Obama for the hard times to comes, anxious to forget who authored them and condemn Obama and the Democrats for their catastrophe. It will take a lot of sober thought and steadfast support to overcome those negatives come re-election time.
The most uplifting thing for me in the years ahead will be knowing that the US President is a thoughtful man of significant intelligence and inspiring linguistic acumen. That is something that has been sorely missing during the years of the BCC.
Now, we have an intelligent, articulate, thoughtful man, with the same attributes in his wife. They will shine on the world stage and make us proud as a nation!
It is the natural step for a society to seek change and become enlightened .
It’s been my dream to be part of history and i am happy it came true !
Honeyyoumarriedasocialist
Now folks, celebrate to your hearts desire for tomorrow the NEO-CON attack dogs will be out in full force frothing at the mouth.......we must never, ever, ever let up.......always remain vigilant for the real work starts now.
The Liberal Warrior
Marilyn has to be one of the most self-centered people on Gather.
Does she not realize that almost half of the population did not choose George Bush either.
And those people had to suffer 8 long intolerable years under his reign of terror.
Now the shoe is on the other foot.
So tell me Marilyn, what is the problem?
the first time, MORE THAN HALF the people DID NOT vote for BUSH!
Gore WON the popular vote showing how antiquated the electoral college is.
And how one sided the Supreme Court is also!
The second time, it was a little closer to 50/50.
Your comments in this article exemplify the feelings of many Americans today! Yes, it is a time for hope. It is a time for change. I am emotionally overwhelmed by the results of the election. I finally got one right!
But now we are back to reality. I can see from comments on gather that hatred, fear, mistrust and misunderstanding still abound! Absolute hate has surfaced with no apologies form the source. And, aside from that, there is a very real risk of too many people expecting instantaneous results from the new administration. Obama stated that it might not be completed in four years! We desperately need to give the man time to function and see what happens.
And what did you think of Obama's acceptance talk? That was, in my opinion, a fantastic talk, about as inclusive and as dynamic as one can find. I believe that Obama is the finest speaker since Dr Martin Luther King! But it has been a great victory and a quantum change in this nation. When I think of significant things in my life, I'd put this on a par with man walking on the moon, only political instead of technological. I'm eager for the new administration to begin.
Don't worry, I know exactly how you feel! Just as I felt the day after election in 2004. Disappointed, frustrated and very afraid for the future and this nation. But we have a congress to temper any excesses of a president and there is no way any president can get much of his program implemented in four years. At which time it all goes back to the electorate for a referendum.
By the way, Bush did as much damage as I feared he possibly would. Perhaps you will have better luck but in this case, I do not wish you success.
Have a good day in spite of everything!
I went to bed central time 09:00 P.M. . I knew he had won .
The whole neighborhood heard!!!
We've regained our compass
We've regained our keel...
We've regained our rudder...
That really does feel,
Very very Good!
:)
Best,
DJE
My favorite was Archbishop Desmond Tutu who referred to the "bully boy" tactics of the US government over the past 8 years!
It is not just Americans who are rejoicing over this moment... it's the whole wide world!
I cried tears of joy, tears of relief, for the end of being in fear all the time. The thought that there is this wonderful man in the White House (soon) has alleviated the feeling of being alone to grapple with what life throws at us. I am happy for us.
People in Paris, London, Sydney, to name a few, celebrated as if they had elected their own president, and in a way it is....everything this country does, effects the rest of the world.
As the World's only remaining Super Power (or so we have been told),
It is Very Important to the Whole World that we as a nation veer widely off of the course
set by the 'Decider in Chief'.
I am certain that our Allies all have a sense of Hope for the
new Administration and the potential for positive actions in the direction of Peace and Prosperity led by what is done here in the U.S.
I have no fear that he will be soft on our enemies.
In fact, one of the reasons I supported Obama was for his indication that he would actually go after the Taliban and Bin Laden as well as getting us out of the quagmire that is Iraq.
I have hopes that steady, well thought out actions will flow from an extremely brilliant mind taking into account the best advice as it is sought out from 'experts' on the subjects
most in need of immediate action here at home.
Hope, good preparation, lots of hard work and Political Capital will, I believe, translate into positive actions on many fronts both internally and internationally.
The 'Honeymoon' may be long (in the words of many pundits and Congressmen),
but the hard labor MUST begin immediately.
Patience is the key word.
It took less than eight years to nearly destroy the Nation and bring the World to the brink of many disasters.
Just as Rome was not built in a day, rebuilding our economy, re-establishing our vital relationships with key allies, re-instituting LOGIC, MORALITY and FAIRNESS as the basis
for any and all actions of the new Administration will take years, if not longer.
Patience, Hope, Logical thought processes, Positive Action,
Bipartisonship, Fairness, these are the guidelines that any administration should use to build on.
I have no doubt that the Obama team has already started using these as a foundation for building the new Administration in their efforts to rebuild America and help rebuild the World's economy as well as ceasing unfounded hostilities and genocides around the world.
My honest support and hopes as well as my increased vigilance will be focused on helping if even only to reach out my hand to opposition party members in an effort to increase the peace in this Country.
GO AMERICA!
WE CAN DO IT,
YES WE CAN!!
I meant to say; " the use of re-instituted logic, morality, and fairness as their basis for any and all actions of the new admin., IT WILL STILL TAKE YEARS, IF NOT LONGER".
Please excuse my typo.
Remember when Bush swaggered on stage after his last election and bragged about the political capital he had just earned (or stolen) and he could therefore spend it. He not only spent it...he wasted it and now he will leave in disgrace hanging his head, his tail between his legs. If he hadn't been so arrogant, perhaps people would have been a bit more forgiving, but not now.
Yes we can,
Yes we did,
Yes we will!
Larry. So true. Remember, when people say power corrupts they don't say power corrupts only certain people. I agree that we need to keep in close contact with our representatives. My wife and I were just discussing how many times we heard and read over the last couple of days how this is going to take all of us. Yes, WE can. No, HE cannot without our help.
Seriously (which doesn't happen often, as you also well know), you believed in Obama early on when many people didn't, and as he so often said, Iowa believed in him and made it all happen. You are part of that and should be proud.
Oh, and working at the polls is not something I do "tirelessly." I get plenty tired, but mama always told me that tired is good.