I woke up this morning a little happier, with an extra spring in my step, and the feeling of hope in my heart. Yesterday, we elected Barack Obama as the next President of the United States of America.

As the votes started getting tallied and states were project as won, one by one (who can really project a state with 1% of the votes in, huh CNN?) I sat in front of the TV, waiting. I honestly didn’t think that the race would be as easy as people predicted it would be. But at around 10pm yesterday night, the world exploded and the nation realized that the American Dream could really become a reality. Our nation elected an African American man as the president.

Now, I know it’s not about race, that people shouldn’t have voted for (or against) Barack because of his race, and that’s true. But you have to admit that his victory is something historical. If any of you had ever heard me speak when I was in college, you know that something I feel important for our youth is having role models, especially role models that look like them. Now I’m not black, but seeing a minority as president makes me proud, and is something that I am happy has happened in Ben’s lifetime. It’s easy to tell a kid, “You can be president someday” even though in the history books he’d only see white men. But to see a person of color, something different, something more relatable, that’s what really makes them believe that they CAN achieve that.

I’m not going to be naive and say that Obama is going to fix everything, that he’s going to heal the wounds that our country has suffered in the last 8 years. He has a hard job before him. There will be campaign promises he won’t keep, things he’s said that won’t be able to do, the economy won’t fix itself in a day. But having him as president gives me a glimmer of hope that things might get better.

Seeing all those faces on TV, in my hometown, hundreds of thousands of people overjoyed with the dawn of a new era. “They’re all so happy!” Ben cried as he saw people on the TV. I teared up as I saw the raw emotion on Jesse Jackson’s eyes. I welled up with emotion as I listened to older black women and men talk about how they never would have thought they would have lived to see this day. The city of Chicago was a perfect backdrop for his rally - my hometown had never looked more beautiful than it did yesterday with people from all walks of life flocking to Grant Park to celebrate. I should have gone, but traffic would have been insane from where we live. I was happy enough looking at my city on TV.

John McCain, as I knew he would be, was gracious in defeat, and his speech was perfect. I only wish there weren’t the boos in the audience to spoil his moment. He ran a good race, and he still is, in the end, a good man who loves his country.

I can’t wait to see what lies ahead. I have a feeling of hope and excitement about my country that I haven’t had for a long time. It’s not going to be easy, and Obama isn’t going to fix everything. I’m not expecting the world to become perfect, but I do feel it will be better. As a nation we are energized, we are hopeful, we are ready.

This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. 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 doubt, 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.

Tags: Reviews by Yano
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Just wanted to remind you all to vote - in case you weren’t aware, today is election day!

I’m not going to tell you who to vote for - vote for whoever you feel will make our lives better in the next 4 years, or at least put us on a better path. My father in law said that although he doesn’t support Obama, he’s not going to bother to vote for McCain, since Illinois will be going to Obama. His vote wouldn’t really impact the amount of electoral votes Obama would be getting. But I said to vote, even if he doesn’t think it would count - because to me, every vote counts. His vote could make the difference between Obama winning by a landslide or barely winning the state.

So even if you don’t think your vote is going to count, vote anyway.

Now, I shall get on a mini soapbox to tell you who I voted for, who I didn’t vote for, and why. Feel free to skip to the good stuff at the end.

I voted last week for Obama. I feel that it’s time for a change in this country, and Obama will bring that change. Sure, he doesn’t have a lot of experience, but I’m sure he’ll surround himself with people who do have experience. I admire McCain, and honestly think he’s a good man and that he does have the best interests of the country at heart. However, the chance that Sarah Palin could be president scares me. Any woman who was going to vote for Hillary Clinton and changes their vote for McCain just because Palin is a woman was never a true Clinton supporter - they are opposites on many different issues. Also, with Palin as VP (and possibly president), I fear that our country would take steps backwards instead of forwards - overturning Roe vs. Wade, a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, less of a separation between church and state, no regard for the environment.

In the end, I want this to be a better world for Ben. A world free of discrimination, where our country takes some responsibility for our ecological imprint we’re leaving on this planet, who cares about the futures of the youth - giving them a well rounded education and more help for higher education, and to not grow up while we’re at war.

If you’re still having a hard time deciding who to vote for, rather than tossing a coin, maybe you should ask yourself, “WHO WOULD WIN IN A DANCEOFF?!?!”

One last thing - I don’t live in California, but I wish I did so I could vote NO on Prop 8. It blows my mind that it’s even an issue and that people care so much to STOP gay marriage. Why is it such a big deal? Why are people so scared of gay marriage? Is love such a bad thing? The gay couples I know are just like any other couples…they’re not sexual deviants, trying to spread their disease to little kids they run into. They’re loving, caring, normal (well, better dressed than normal) people. Don’t throw out this “sanctity of marriage” crap, either - the states that have banned gay marriage have some of the highest divorce rates. I want our country to move forward and be more accepting of what is different - not backwards and teaching fear and discrimination.

Get out and vote!

Tags: Video Gaga by Yano
7 Comments »