Thoughts on the Election, and election night

Thoughts on the Election, and election night

First, I am posting this a day late because in keeping with my normal practice I want to have Kim's birthday message remain the only post for a day.

Second, everything was tempered by the news that's Kim's uncle Randy may not last much longer, and in fact might not make it through the night.  So this understandably tempered my emotions somewhat.  However, as Kim said, things have changed, we have seen so little of him over the past 3 years, despite the fact that he lives just a few blocks from us, that it won't have the same impact it would have had 5 years ago.  But it is still sad, and very sad to see Connie have to face the fact that her baby brother is dying, particularly when you consider that this would be the third close family member to pass away in a 5 year period.

So, it is done, and I will admit to getting awfully chocked up at the end last night, I was in tears several times during Obama's acceptance speech.  It is just such a huge thing, such an amazing sign of change for this country.  I posted a couple of articles yesterday that best sum up why this has such an amazing impact on me.  This election was a sign of not just hope in general, but of hope for our children.  A sign of thanks for all of the people who worked and strived and suffered to get us to this point.  And a message of hope for the children of this country that now, finally, we can move past our country's worst legacy, that the American Dream is truly something that we all can share.

 

These are some of the highlights from his Acceptance speech that really got to me:

 

"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer."

 

"This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that's on my mind tonight's about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She's a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing: Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old. She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn't vote for two reasons -- because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin.

And tonight, I think about all that she's seen throughout her century in America -- the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can't, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.

At a time when women's voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can.

When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs, a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can.

When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes we can.

She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that "We Shall Overcome." Yes we can.

A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination.

And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change.

Yes we can."

 

The images and voices from Tuesday night are just so amazing. Seeing Jesse Jackson, mute, unblinking, then with tears in his eyes. The huge celebration in Atlanta and the one girl just on her knees, crying. It all was so amazing, and heartfelt. It is almost to impossible to overestimate the impact this election had on millions of people of color in this country.

 

Here are a couple of articles commenting on the impact of this vote that really struck me yesterday:

 

Once again Mark Cuban (of all people) finds the right words:

 

An excellent summation of the real meaning of this election

 

"As any successful CEO will tell you, leadership, vision and motivation has far more impact on results than any tax cut or increase.  While I prefer lower taxes, I can tell you that no entrepreneur or CEO worth a damn in this country gives up or works less because of a change in tax policy."

 

Cuban hit the nail on the head for me, to all those people who argue that a progressive tax policy somehow stifles the urge to succeed this is my response. The people who really truly work hard, strive to succeed, and achivee, in business, science, arts, athletics, any endeavor, they do not let the prospect of a higher tax rate stifle that urge. The only people I can think of who might say that are those who want an excuse to stop working.

 

Peggy Wallace comments on her Dad and Obama

 

"My father lived long enough to come to an understanding of the injustices borne by his deeds and the legacy of suffering that it left behind."

"Perhaps it would be a way of reconciling in his own mind that what he once stood for did not prevent freedom of opportunity and self-advancement from coming full circle; his final absolution." 

 

I will admit I went through a (thankfully short lived) phase of my life when I wasn't the most tolerant person.  And during and after that time I made it a point to study extremist groups, specifically the White Supremacist types.  And the one biggest thing I took away from my studies of the more successful Southern Democrat politicians, the one's who stood in the doorways, who turned a blind eye to the bombings and lynchings.  It was that the most successful ones politically: Wallace, Theodore Bilbo, Strom Thurmond, their politics were based on an appeal and support of the poor (well the poor whites).  Wallace in particular was a huge champion of the poor, his social policies that he enacted as Governor, as well as his platforms, were all geared towards helping 'the poor working man'.  I am not saying that excused their racist politics and policies.  Just that it was an important thing to bear in mind.  And I think that in the big picture, some of these men who realized the error of their ways, like Wallace, and who are now looking down (or up as the case may be) are proud of America today.

 

And last, for those people who are not so gracious in defeat, who are making bitter, obnoxious comments about their President Elect (up to and including one poster on the Fox News web site who basically advocated his assassination) I can only feel sorry for you.  I can only hope that in the next 4 to 8 years, as you see how much of an impact this man will have on our country, that you see the error of your ways.