America Is Back!
By Danae Jones Aicher | Wednesday, November 5th, 2008 | Catch-All, PoliticsFor days to come, I will be processing what happened tonight, and over the last two years. But I had to post something because it’s too amazing a night.
Put partisan policy debates aside for a minute….
In his speech tonight, Barack reminded us of what makes this country great. It’s not our arms. It’s not our wealth. It is, indeed, our enduring ideals. And, whatever your politics, every American has to have felt some pride in what Barack’s win told us- all of us- about those ideals. I know, firsthand, that the message is clear worldwide, too. It’s as much about how the world sees us now as it is about how we now see ourselves.
So much of his appeal was more than just politics; it was about a call to change a culture inside and outside of Washington. And, as one of my best friends IM’d me after the speech… “I’m just grateful that hope and not hate prevailed.”
That one sentence points to the power of this moment. In this moment, Americans see America in fundamentally the same way; Americans who have felt left out believe in the same America as those who have enjoyed automatic inclusion. That’s powerful. That’s America.
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16 Responses to "America Is Back!"
Right on, Danae! Great message and I look forward to the criticism and the love of politics from both sides here.
We are truly entering a new era of American politics here. It is the dawn of an age where those that felt left out can truly feel an equal part. It is inspiring and in all honesty I feel that the world is viewing us in absolute awe right now.
Congratulations to America’s new President! I was proud of the enthusiam Obama’s supporters had last night and have moving forward.
America is already several steps ahead just by the amount of people who turned out. It would be really nice if we stayed engaged and watched all these guys like hawks.
As my neighbors celebrated last night, I told the person I was on my cell phone with that they were hopeless yesterday, elated tonight, but will they volunteer and try to help their community tomorrow?
I hope the Obama victory shows them that things can be accomplished in working the system, and that they volunteer now to make “change” themselves.
Hope and not hate? Is that what McCain represented to your friend?
Now that’s truly sad.
JR – Cheer up!
I have a feeling you’ll have lots to blog about over the next four (eight?) years:-)
Jim,
I don’t think she was accusing McCain of hate. But we all understood that there is a faction for whom hate is a driving force. It’s not as if we haven’t seen it used in elections past. The point is… It appears as though the hate faction is in the minority. That’s something to celebrate.
Danae, please don’t let me tell you some of the hateful things I heard from Obama supporters in Town Center. I know people were excited and all, but I had to shake my head.
Brian,
You can’t blame the candidates on what some people in a crowd shouted out. But you can point out what the candidates were saying at those rallies.
“Pal’ing around with terrorist…”
It was nice to see the kids all excited in front of the White House with nice signs like “Why wait? Evict Bush now” and waving the former Soviet flag.
I’m sure this represents the “hope” of America.
Again, just color me skeptical. I haven’t been on liberal blogs, but I bet that there is little outreach to conservatives.
Oh, and by the way, isn’t it ironic that the man who spent 5-1/2 years being tortured in Vietnam defending our liberty was defeated by a man who, yes Frenchy, associates with a Vietnam-era domestic terrorist.
I’m glad an African American was elected. That is, in many ways, a great accomplishment, and says marvelous things about where we are as a nation.
But I doubt, very highly, that many of his supporters will take this election as anything but a mandate to create their own kind of idealism and divisiveness.
I am in central Georgia (USA). The view from here is that we were just run over by a truck. Or, in historical association – we’re now facing again the Reconstruction Government imposed on the defeated south in 1865. Carpetbaggers, scalawags and opportunists from afar are going to be playing the tune and we’ll have to dance.
“Miz Scarlett, they done run the taxes way up on Tara.”
Forced out of government and without a voice we’re at the mercy of the victors. And, if the past is any indication there will be precious little mercy.
Some suggest they’ll burrow into the ground for the next four years. However, when they come out they won’t be the USA they once knew.
“Look for it only in books, for it is no more than a dream remembered, a civilization gone with the wind.”
Ha. Love the BS revisionism. Hey, Southern Gentleman (aka, Georgia Cracker), I spent formative years in GWTW land. My high school football games were played in Twelve Oaks Stadium off Tara Boulevard. And you know what? This area went clear for Obama. You might enjoy living in 1860, but the rest of us have moved on. Don’t complain when you’re looked upon as a quaint relic of a time well past.
JR,
I think you’re going to be surprised by the outreach that Obama will bring to the White House, unlike George and his “my way or the highway” form of government.
As for the people asking for Bush to leave today, I’m all for it. He’s generated twice as many Presidential Signing Statements as every other President combined. And he still writing them!
Many of these statements circumnavigate the authority normally given to Congress. The ramifications of these documents will be felt for years.
But, the one good thing that you Republicans did in giving President Bush practically unlimted power is, now President Obama gets to use it.
Seeing as the GOP cheered Bush on as he raped the Constitution don’t expect anyone to feel sorry for you.
My dear MB,
It is often said, “Atlanta ain’t Georgia.” You’ve confirmed that.
That’s so cute, SG. Hop back to the Andersonville reenactments and leave the governing and civilization to those that can handle it, yes?
MB -
You have eloquently confirmed what J.R. Hoeft wrote yesterday
“But I doubt, very highly, that many of his supporters will take this election as anything but a mandate to create their own kind of idealism and divisiveness.”
Enough said.
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