Barack Obama - Galvanizing youth
My son Zachary posted on his Facebook page, what I think is an eloquent reaction to the election of Barack Obama. One of the exciting things about this election has been the record turnout, and the excitement that it's generated, particurly among our younger citizens. I hope it bodes well for the future, for their sake. Here's the post:
Earlier I wrote that I thought the song "Summer, Highland Falls"
was the theme song to this campaign, and that, as the song goes, I
would experience either "sadness or euphoria" by the time all the votes
were counted. Luckily, euphoria won out.
"They say that these are not the best of times, but they're the only times I've ever known."
I still haven't really processed this yet. I was optimistic, but I wasn't sure our country had it in them to elect an African-American. Well, I was proved wrong. I have regained faith in our nation. And now it is up to us to work with our new president to set this country back on the right track. And it's going to take a lot of work. And all of that work might not be able to be completed in an Obama administration. Even two terms might not be enough to completely repair what George W. Bush has done to our nation. But he can set us on the right path. I truly believe that.
I first decided I was going to support Senator Obama after I read his book, "The Audacity of Hope." It was mainly a policy book, but it all made sense to me. And I was struck by the lack of partisanship Obama displayed. He was and is not an ideologue, and I knew that was a quality I admired. But as much as I liked him, it seemed all but certain that Hillary Clinton was going to be our nominee. I was proven wrong. It was a grueling primary, one that I thought at the time would hurt Obama in the general. I thought the longer it went on, the worse shape we would be in. Again, I was proved wrong.
So after a particuarly nasty general campaign, it has all turned out for the better. We have a truly unique opportunity here. We have to take advantage of it. Because if we sit back and don't work hard to improve our nation with President Obama, we will be no better off than we were a day ago, let alone four years ago.
"So as we stand upon the ledges of our lives, with our respective similarities. It's either sadness or euphoria."
Yes we can.
"They say that these are not the best of times, but they're the only times I've ever known."
I still haven't really processed this yet. I was optimistic, but I wasn't sure our country had it in them to elect an African-American. Well, I was proved wrong. I have regained faith in our nation. And now it is up to us to work with our new president to set this country back on the right track. And it's going to take a lot of work. And all of that work might not be able to be completed in an Obama administration. Even two terms might not be enough to completely repair what George W. Bush has done to our nation. But he can set us on the right path. I truly believe that.
I first decided I was going to support Senator Obama after I read his book, "The Audacity of Hope." It was mainly a policy book, but it all made sense to me. And I was struck by the lack of partisanship Obama displayed. He was and is not an ideologue, and I knew that was a quality I admired. But as much as I liked him, it seemed all but certain that Hillary Clinton was going to be our nominee. I was proven wrong. It was a grueling primary, one that I thought at the time would hurt Obama in the general. I thought the longer it went on, the worse shape we would be in. Again, I was proved wrong.
So after a particuarly nasty general campaign, it has all turned out for the better. We have a truly unique opportunity here. We have to take advantage of it. Because if we sit back and don't work hard to improve our nation with President Obama, we will be no better off than we were a day ago, let alone four years ago.
"So as we stand upon the ledges of our lives, with our respective similarities. It's either sadness or euphoria."
Yes we can.
This is indeed a very eloquent post and so truly corresponds to my own feelings about this election. I too feel such a renewed spirit of hope for our country, and sometimes practically have to pinch myself that Obama really won. My children are biracial, and I'll never ever forget my 13-yr-old son beaming at me shortly after the western states' voting results came in and saying, "Wow, maybe I can be president someday."
Posted by: Kristin Davis | November 10, 2008 at 11:20 AM
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Posted by: timealleday | December 01, 2008 at 12:53 PM
Thanks for your comments.
Rob
Posted by: Rob | December 03, 2008 at 05:16 PM