James Carville on CNN, early in the electoral count, was confident that Obama would win. Someone asked him what he thought about it. He said that he was 64 years old, grew up in the segregated South, went to a segregated college, and honestly thought he'd never live to see a black person elected President. Carville was a happy man. So am I.
I called my grandmother (83 years old) who has lived in Odessa her entire life. She was up past her bedtime to see his victory speech. Oh, and she asked me if I was going to church too.
i don't get it....are some of you guys more excited to see something happen that has never happened or excited to see the man elected that shared your beliefs? would hillary have been that much different from barack as a leader? i dunno it's like some people needed to see a black man get elected to make them believe that it COULD happen. i never had any doubt that it could happen as long as the right candidate was up there...but that's me...i am a random idiot.
That's great that there are people like you who had enough faith in the American republic to consider it a non-issue...but the reality for millions of others in this country, especially people of color and minorities, what happened last night was something that had to be seen to be believed. Even I, eternally optimistic as I am, had this little nagging doubt, to the point that I could not help but be moved with emotion watching him deliver that speech. All of a sudden it was like -- did America really just elect an African American president?
I'm that color people like to call "White" (more pasty off-white, like the crayola they used to have, but I digress), but considering our history, how can anyone, regardless of political persuasion, fail to be uplifted by the election of a Black American as President? I was one of the few who supported both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, and yes, I would have been thrilled if Hillary had gotten the nod and then won the election. It would have been historic. Equally historic? Perhaps, in its own way, but as badly as women have been treated during our history, as badly as many are still treated, they were never bought and sold, not legally, which remains a stain on our history. This is an incredible night, an incredible day. I believe it because its happened, it's on the news, it's on the internet, but I'm still in disbelief. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if I woke up tomorrow and this was just a dream. I'm old enough to remember "Whites Only" signs on public bathrooms and on the entrance to the local swimming pool at my Southeast Houston city park. I remember riding the bus to Foley's Downtown with my grandmother and all the Blacks riding in the back. I remember seeing Dr. King give his speech, saw it on TV. I remember the riots when he was murdered. Sure, I remember that and the Kennedy brothers, and LBJ pushing through the Civil Rights Bill, with crucial help from some Republicans, like Everett Dirksen, but I never imagined I'd see this, not yet. Maybe if I were lucky enough to live as long as my grandmother did, bless her heart, but not yet. This can't be happening, but it is. We've got a Black President and I'm stunned.
even half a world away I completely agree and got goosepumps watching his acceptance speech, great to see a leader who values thinking and knows how to communicate what a great fricken event to have on my birthday, if fact what a great day to feel good about the human race I am nevertheless somewhat disappointed by the impending loss of comedic value this current administration has delivered
I am basically speechless I did not cry. I was not overly emotional but I cannot deny the history of the moment America Surprised me yesterday. Rocket River
I'm 47, born in 1961. I've seen a lot of bad history in my life. 9-11, Vietnam, 2 Kennedy's and MLK assasinated. Barack Obama's election is tied at the top with man landing on the moon as the greatest positive historical event of my lifetime. I'm glad I was alive to see it, and I think of my friends and relatives who have passed away who didn't get to see it and who would have been overjoyed. God Bless the United States of America!
I am so happy for our country. I stayed up late and watched every bit of coverage. John McCains speech was just great....his crowds boos didnt help any....but over all it had been a long time since Ive seen him speak well. Walking away from the voting poll yesterday, I knew that it was going to be a special day. God bless America and the rest of the world.
Driving into work this morning, I just felt really good. I know the whole "HOPE" thing is really played out, but for the first time in a long time, I feel hopeful as opposed to downright bitter and cynical. It's an amazing thing. This is the American dream.
As an Asian I would be proud of seeing an Asian US President but its not that important to me. For US cultural history it was more important to get a Black president elected than it would be to get an Asian. While as Asians we've had our own periods of oppression the Asian-American experience doesn't quite have the import to America as the African-American experiment. For that matter Obama's election has likely opened the doors to all minorities and put to rest the idea that the President should be a white man. I find it interesting though that the path to the Presidency has followed the path of other civil rights breakthroughs where gender has lagged behind race. Blacks got the vote (although handicapped by Jim Crow) before women did and their were black men who had served in Congress and governors before women were. Also there was a black USSC Justice before a woman. So gender is still out there as the last glass ceiling to be broken even though as Hillary Clinton noted there are a few million cracks in that.
Guys, this a something even the great MLK couldn't dream of. A revolution has incurred in America. Obama unites people. His trademark of the entire campaign was getting people from all different backgrounds to believe in him. I believe that even Republicans know how big this election is. I have no doubt that Obama will unite the country that showed such devisiveness during the Bush presidency.
