Like most everyone, I have felt fed up with the 2012 Election. Political ads tearing down opponents, an ineffective bipartisan system, empty rhetoric...the list goes on. And then as I drove home last night, I thought about how I would feel if Romney was elected President. And I realized, I would be sad. And I would probably cry.
Don't get me wrong. While I have a preference, I'm also realistic enough to acknowledge that President Romney would change very little in the grand scheme of things (it's impossible to do so in our two-party system!). However, I thought about how I felt four years ago when President Obama was elected, and then inaugurated.
On Election Night, in 2008, I sat in my dorm room, so filled with pride and joy in my country. The fact that we had a non-white President was a symbol of how far we'd come as a nation. I thought of Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr, Malcom X and countless others who fought for equal rights. Now, here we were.
The night that President Obama was inaugurated in 2009, I sat in the living room of my Ugandan host parents' small home. My Papa and I listened through the static of an ancient radio to President Obama's speech, barely audible over the sound of the Luganda translators. My Papa was so happy. The fact that President Obama had been elected as leader of the most powerful nation in the world, symbolized to nearly every Ugandan that I spoke to, that "we are one people." Ugandans felt unity, pride and hope for a world in which peace reigned. And I couldn't help but feel it, too.
The night of President Obama's inauguration was a night that has been burned into my memory forever. I will not be naive enough to think that President Obama can heal all our nation's ills. But today, I am feeling so overwhelmed and proud that the USA gets four more years.
If you'd like to read more about the night of President Obama's inauguration in Uganda, click HERE.
Beautifully written and so true :)
ReplyDeletewe live in a great nation where if there is a transition of power it is peaceful and for that i am glad, we don't overthrow our government, or demand a new leader what a great country we live in
ReplyDeleteSo so so true. I'm so proud of America today. I cried last night when I heard he had been reelected.
ReplyDeleteThis is so true. I was in college in '08 too and I remember being in the student center watching the whole election night. It was just magical - I am so happy for another years.
ReplyDeleteDid you hear that that photo of Mr. President and Michelle has become the most retweeted photo ever?
Meg
beautifully stated. love your blog!
ReplyDeleteWow! I am one of your newest followers and I am so glad to have read this post! It's one of the more positive ones I have seen - and it's so beautifully composed. I too was a college student in 2008. I submitted an absentee ballot - but believe it or not ... I do not remember where I was on election night. I do remember, however where I was during his inauguration. I had attended a retreat for the leadershape institute out in the mountains somewhere. There was no cable television .. but us TU students managed to find an old radio and crowded around to hear Obama's speech. I will never forget where I was last night as the results came in, or at the fact that history was made once again! I am so proud to be an American and to have an African American as our leader. It truly shows how far we have come as a nation.
ReplyDeletePlease check out my blog as well :) http://christinamarieharris.blogspot.com/
I just spend about .02 seconds trying to find the "like" button. I need to spend less time on facebook. Clearly.
ReplyDeletei got chills. chills all through out my body.
ReplyDeleteI love how you worded this post, and agree with you. I felt so overcome with joy watching him being inaugurated four years ago, and being re-elected this year. I'm proud to have had a part in this election and the last, because I hadn't voted in others prior.
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy I found your blog! I struggled so much this election season with fitting in in "church world" where it seemed I was the only Christian who wasn't voting Republican...and was vilified by several people for it. I'm so happy to see a positive post by someone who feels the way I feel!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Well put.
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