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Tomorrow...
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zimshan made an Obama vid! It is wonderful and brilliant, and not about him as such, but more about all the people who helped him win - all the volunteers and donors, those who voted, those who believed that together you could make a difference. (ETA: People like this.) America, you're awe-inspiring right now!
pfeifferpack has a wonderful post about what manner of man will be president come tomorrow.
And as for the future, then this quote (from this interview), is certainly something to make one hopeful:
"Two years from now, I want the American people to be able to say, "Government's not perfect; there are some things Obama does that get on my nerves. But you know what? I feel like the government's working for me. I feel like it's accountable. I feel like it's transparent. I feel that I am well informed about what government actions are being taken. I feel that this is a President and an Administration that admits when it makes mistakes and adapts itself to new information, that believes in making decisions based on facts and on science as opposed to what is politically expedient." Those are some of the intangibles that I hope people two years from now can claim," - Barack Obama, president-elect.
I also feel I ought to point you towards Andrew Sullivan's article about Obama from yesterday's Sunday Times.
Finally, I like this story from 'The Audacity of Hope':
After one town hall meeting in Godfrey, an older gentleman came up and expressed outrage that despite my having opposed the Iraq War, I had not yet called for a full withdrawal of troops. We had a brief and pleasant argument, in which I explained my concern that too precipitous a withdrawal would lead to an all-out civil war in the country and the potential for widening conflict throughout the Middle East. At the end of our conversation he shook my hand.
"I still think you're wrong," he said, "but at least it seems like you've thought about it. Hell, you'd probably disappoint me if you agreed with me all the time."
"Thanks," I said. As he walked away, I was reminded of something Justice Louis Brandeis once said: that in a democracy, the most important office is the office of citizen.
(I need a new icon. I'm waiting until tomorrow though, I figure that there will be an overabundance of choice!)
ETA: I think it's partly the sense of watching history being made that is so enticing. I'll make sure that the girls watch the inauguration tomorrow, because it's something they'll want to remember. :)
zimshan made an Obama vid! It is wonderful and brilliant, and not about him as such, but more about all the people who helped him win - all the volunteers and donors, those who voted, those who believed that together you could make a difference. (ETA: People like this.) America, you're awe-inspiring right now!pfeifferpack has a wonderful post about what manner of man will be president come tomorrow.And as for the future, then this quote (from this interview), is certainly something to make one hopeful:
"Two years from now, I want the American people to be able to say, "Government's not perfect; there are some things Obama does that get on my nerves. But you know what? I feel like the government's working for me. I feel like it's accountable. I feel like it's transparent. I feel that I am well informed about what government actions are being taken. I feel that this is a President and an Administration that admits when it makes mistakes and adapts itself to new information, that believes in making decisions based on facts and on science as opposed to what is politically expedient." Those are some of the intangibles that I hope people two years from now can claim," - Barack Obama, president-elect.
I also feel I ought to point you towards Andrew Sullivan's article about Obama from yesterday's Sunday Times.
Finally, I like this story from 'The Audacity of Hope':
After one town hall meeting in Godfrey, an older gentleman came up and expressed outrage that despite my having opposed the Iraq War, I had not yet called for a full withdrawal of troops. We had a brief and pleasant argument, in which I explained my concern that too precipitous a withdrawal would lead to an all-out civil war in the country and the potential for widening conflict throughout the Middle East. At the end of our conversation he shook my hand.
"I still think you're wrong," he said, "but at least it seems like you've thought about it. Hell, you'd probably disappoint me if you agreed with me all the time."
"Thanks," I said. As he walked away, I was reminded of something Justice Louis Brandeis once said: that in a democracy, the most important office is the office of citizen.
(I need a new icon. I'm waiting until tomorrow though, I figure that there will be an overabundance of choice!)
ETA: I think it's partly the sense of watching history being made that is so enticing. I'll make sure that the girls watch the inauguration tomorrow, because it's something they'll want to remember. :)
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I really wish people would wait until he's done something other than make pretty speeches and win an election before they fall on their knees in exaltation before him.
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Per the first comment, we don't know what sort of president Obama will be. But for me, at least, this is the first time when I voted FOR someone, as opposed to voting against someone. He's obviously very intelligent, which will be a nice change from the last 8 years. He's promising to do a different sort of politics, which has many of us hopeful, at least for the moment.
And for someone who has lived in America as long as I have (long enough to feel this moment), this is something that seemed impossible but which has happened anyway. I was a young girl in Alabama when George Wallace won the governorship by saying that the other (white) guy was going to get the black vote. I lived in LA during the Rodney King riots. So many of us are of good will, but race has long seemed to be an ineradicable stain on ALL of us. I don't think Obama's election will magically erase it. But it does suggest that there's more to our country than just that stain. And it's nice to be reminded of that. It gives a girl hope.
So lots of reasons to be happy about tomorrow. And hopeful. And one can think these things without thinking that Obama is going to part the red sea or something cool like that.
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The reason I chose the quote from the book is that there are points on which I think he is wrong, but I can respect him still. And, quite frankly, after W, he *does* seem like the second coming, at least from over here... Although we'll have to let go of that smug superiority we've been enjoying.
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I know more about politics than I ever thought I would. (And a lot more about US politics than UK variety, but then UK politics are drab and uninspiring.)
He's obviously very intelligent, which will be a nice change from the last 8 years. He's promising to do a different sort of politics, which has many of us hopeful, at least for the moment.
*nods* Someone who can inspire hope is very important, especially when he seems to be genuine, which is very rare - *especially* in politics!
But it does suggest that there's more to our country than just that stain. And it's nice to be reminded of that. It gives a girl hope.
Darcy remarked tonight, that now all we need, here in England, is an Asian Prime Minister. (We did the woman thing already. *shudders*)
So lots of reasons to be happy about tomorrow. And hopeful. And one can think these things without thinking that Obama is going to part the red sea or something cool like that.
Indeed! :)
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Aw, and thank you for the pimp, you are much too kind! But I had a ball making it, so I'm glad you can enjoy, especially for the other side of the pond and all!
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My main drive now is to finish chem lab early tomorrow. Theoretically, I could be done quite early, as I don't have that much to do. In actuality, when you put chemicals in front of me, I turn into an aging Galapagos tortoise. Tomorrow I have class scheduled for 9-12 and 12-2, but if I finish chem lab early, I know where I can go to watch the swearing in on TV, and my noon instructor sent us an e-mail saying she wouldn't start class until 12:30 so we can watch the address. And she's Austrian. :-D I also talked to my nephew this evening, and his school is setting up TVs for all the middle school and upper elementary students (roughly ages 9-13) to watch. The majority of his classmates are black, which made me particularly glad to hear that they'll watch it.
I have to say, the first election I cared about was 1992, I was pro-Clinton and in 7th grade, and I honestly don't remember a thing about the inauguration. We certainly didn't watch it in school -- checking a calendar, it would have been on MLK Day, but I can't imagine we would have. We had a school news program (nationwide, syndicated in schools) that would have talked about it, but I don't remember it.
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My pleasure. Actually, I wish I'd included the 'we can disagree without being disagreeable one', because that might be one of his greatest talents - to respect those who hold opposing viewpoints.
But I had a ball making it, so I'm glad you can enjoy, especially for the other side of the pond and all!
It's been fascinating to follow this election, partly because of my flist - so many donated or volunteered, and it's very inspiring to witness. (I cannot imagine doing the same for a British politician. Just can't!)
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You mean you're not a member of
it's great that so many people outside the U.S. are also looking forward to this.
Well America is the only superpower left, and what the US does impacts everyone. Also, it's fascinating to me, personally, since so many people on my flist were involved in the campaign.
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Let's hope his campaign was a good indicator!
But then, no matter who we were inaugurating, I'd be awfully excited about FINALLY getting rid of Bush.
Heh. All the comedians are crying though...
Also, when I got back, they informed me that they had given me the hardest packet and they were amazed I'd done it as thoroughly as I had, so go me. ;-)
Neat! I think it's stuff like this that matters - everyone doing a small part and together it's extremely powerful!
but if I finish chem lab early, I know where I can go to watch the swearing in on TV, and my noon instructor sent us an e-mail saying she wouldn't start class until 12:30 so we can watch the address. And she's Austrian. :-D
Well that is certainly good motivation for doing a dull job!
I have to say, the first election I cared about was 1992, I was pro-Clinton and in 7th grade, and I honestly don't remember a thing about the inauguration.
I have honestly never cared about politics before (would vote, obviously, but that was it), so being so caught up in something like this is v. odd. But nice. :)