I awoke this morning, put on the TV, knowing that I would hear that Mr Obama is President Obama.
I found myself crying. This man has had a very odd affect on me. Never before has a politician done anything for me. I have not been interested, felt cynical about them all. Certainly the leader of my own country has not bothered me at all, except I was glad that the Tories were ousted but sadly to be replaced by more of the same.
Anyway, when I first saw and heard Obama speak, I just knew that this man was the real deal and the man who had the opportunity to change the world and more importantly change the world's view of the USA.
This morning I have nothing but respect for the USA. I can't believe it! You did it!
You elected a black man to the highest office in the land!!!!
Not a rich born black man either. Now I believe that the USA is truly a land of opportunity.
I hope that he is safe and is kept safe. My poartner who was grown up enough to recall the hope of John F. Kennedy says this is pretty much the same.
I am just amazed that I care so much about this. I do feel that this is really a major turning point in history.
Something has shifted, there has been a change and we can perhaps begin to breath fresh air again.
Another long stretch, but hoping to be more regular
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I am excited to see how he does also. He has a lot of mess to clean up, the economy, the war...not an easy job at all.
My feelings exactly! Well said (or printed). Jane
This is definitely a change for the U.S. There is bound to be change.
I am always spellbound by his speeches and have felt he has a unique view on the world.
Go, Obama! (Now, isn't THAT original???)
I, too, remember the election of John Kennedy, and I worry about Mr. Obama's safety.
However, JFK let in a breath of fresh air, starting the legislation and thought that eventually allowed Mr. Obama to be elected.
We needed a bright young shining knight again. I think he has arrived.
Colin, I totally agree-I cried too.
"..cometh the hour, cometh the man"
Please God keep him and his family safe.
For the first time ever I can honestly say and mean, God bless America.
I heard the Rev. Jesse Jackson on radio 4 this morning which was very, very moving.
The wind of change is blowing strongly across the planet now.
We did it, Colin.
I share your hopes for his safety. The only thing that saddened me last night was the frame of bulletproof glass around him.
And yes, he has an enormous task ahead of him, challenges not faced by any president in decades. But there is no question he has the support of the majority of the people. And for the first time in many, many years, I again believe that we, as a country, can do anything.
Yes we can.
I am breathing a sigh of relief for the first time in 8 years.
I am 39 years old and have voted in every election since I was 18. This is the first time I have ever voted FOR a candidate, instead of just against one. For the first time in eight years, I can hold my head up as an American. Sorry, world, for the past eight years. Maybe we can get it right in the next eight.
Thank you Colin for caring and recognizing the impact that electing Obama has on our world. On our first trip to Europe last year we were shocked at the number of people that wanted to talk about American politics and the mess we were in. Now we can hold our heads high and feel hopeful. We all cried and did the happy dance, now it's time to do some serious work.
While I have high hopes for Obama, I still have to wonder about the American people.
California just voted to ban same-sex marriages. California just voted, by a big margin, not to support alternative energy or place requirements for lowering energy use by a certain date many years from now.
It's hard for me to reconcile the Obama win with this sort of thing.
I agree I am so hopeful for things now, I think this is only the beginning. The film footage of Jesse Jackson in tears was moving.
Thank you, Colin, for expressing what so many of us Americans are feeling today. It's a beautiful, hope-filled day today for those of us who have truly feared for the path our country has taken in the last eight years.
I can only pray that Obama is not only kept safe, but that he is able to continue to inspire the young people of the US to work for their country to bring about the change they want. We saw it in the campaign, and it brought such hope to my cynical old heart, I cannot tell you! And I'm old enough that my first vote was against Richard Nixon. Eek!
He has a tough job ahead of him. And a tough choice to make: What kind of puppy will he and Michelle get for their daughters!? :)
HE'S IN!!!!!!!!!!!! YES!!!!!!! Now we can send the talking Barbie Doll back to Alaska where, if we are lucky, she will be gobbled up by a polar bear.
Obama will not be able to fix the mess we are in overnight. In fact, I doubt he can do it in one term. However, he can certainly start the winds of change blowing.
Like a few others who have commented here, I do fear for the man's safety and hope his security team will always be on their toes, ultra-vigilant, and protect him well.
At least this will be an administration whose goal is NOT to keep the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer, and the middle class stomped out of existence.
Obama could be purple with pink polka-dots for all I care. The important thing is not his skin color, but the hope he gives us.
However, I do think it's way cool that a black man has been elected. The presidency is no longer the WASP club.
Go Obama!
Colin, you expressed my own feelings very well. I talked about it on my non-knitting blog (http://wordwych.livejournal.com/), where I said that while I have voted in every Presidential election since I was old enough to do so, I have never before felt like I was voting FOR a candidate. We've always had to choose between the lesser of two evils. I simply cannot believe the difference in how I feel today. Even the weather is cooperating - gorgeous, sunny, 60+ degrees. After eight years, I finally feel like I can breathe!
I felt that way when Bill Clinton was first elected. That was my first election, I voted in.
Anonymous-try telling that to black people! Perhaps you ought to acquaint yourself with what is and what isn't pc though I have a feeling you know and are just trolling.
Thank you, Colin. Today I woke up with a smile on my face and the first time I said President Obama out loud I almost cried. This man is amazing, and is going to lead us all by example as much as by his position. I worry for his safety as well, since we have a history of killing intelligent men who speak out against the status quo, but more than the fear, I am hopeful. Hopeful for the first time in eight years.
Today is a good day to be an American. Today is a good day to be a citizen of Earth.
Amen!!!
I drove to court this morning, thinking, "How can the world be the same after last night?"
Amen! For the first time I saw out in that Chicago park, the faces of people of good will and they were all (or mostly all) my fellow countrymen and women. It's the first time in a long time I have felt proud of being from the USA.
Again, Colin, your mouth to God's ears!:)
Joan
thank you for your post and very kind thoughts. So many of us here are happy to the point of tears and I for one feel myself proud to be an American in a way I never could have been before.
I tried to express this in my blog, although in some sense it is beyond words. (http://www.quotidianmusings-qm.blogspot.com)
It feels good to hold our head up again and meet the eyes of the rest of the world with honor.
I too, was in tears. I live in a traditionally "blue" state but was a wee bit worried.
I am proud to be an American for the first time in 8 years.
Now, if I could only marry my partner in NYS, I could be really happy dancing...
I am very excited that Obama is the president elect. He spoke at my middle daughter's graduation at Northwestern and he was electric. It was a priviledge to hear him speak. He felt very presidental then. He inspired my two youngest to vote and they were very excited about the returns. It's good to see the rest of the world as excited about Obama as we are in the US.
I was thrilled to see the headline in my local newspaper on November 5,2008 that read " President Obama." My joy is indescribable.
Interesting article in The Times yesterday by Trevor Phillips - racial equality man. Agreed with what I said about why keep insisting that Obama is a 'black man' all the time, he is just a man with a skin colour different from some of us
Dear Anonymous-I think maybe you read the article the way you wanted to. MR Phillips was on the radio and all over the news today complaining about how a black person would not be elected to PM here. That rather is the opposite of what you interpreted him to mean. Anyone who can't see that his colour is of huge importance, just refuses to.
If you feel the need to respond again, please do not do so anonymously. I reserve to omit such posts.
Colin, I'm a little behind in my reading and just read your post about President-Elect Obama. It gives me hope. The world has hated us through the Bush administration and we have hated him. We've cringed watching what our own government has done. We all (at my house,) cried tears of relief and joy when Obama got elected. I'm so glad to hear that you did, too.
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