new pic: ReutersI am still too overwhelmed to get my thoughts completely straight.
Outside, there were people spilling out of the buildings of my otherwise quiet Brooklyn neighborhood. Cars were honking and flashing lights, an incredibly diverse group of Brooklyn College kids were cheering and singing and dancing, filling the sidewalks like a Mardi Gras parade. No cops came to stop them. No scowling passersby rolled their eyes. Instead, people high fived strangers. They hugged their neighbors. The streets were teary and joyous and magical.
It felt cathartic as much as celebratory; like a heavy weight lifted off our collective chests. Like enchanted statues in some sci-fi movie cracking open and revealing living humans once again. Like a triumph of hope over hatred. Of progress over fear.
At an election watching party last night, one friend turned to me and asked whether I was going to wake my kids and give them the news. I told her I wasn’t sure; I think they were too little to understand, even if the night really belonged to them.
Then I turned to her and said, “Our children – they’re going to grow up during the Obama years.”
She squeezed my hand and we cried together.
74 shards of brilliance… read them below or add one
Grrrrrrrrrrrllllllllllllfriend! Yay!
Obama Years – love the sound of that.
i took my 20 month old son in with me to the voting booth…for the same reason…so he could be with me to vote for Obama. I am proud that my son will grow up in the Obama years. So very sad about the blow to gay rights in California, Arizona, Florida and Arkansas. That breaks my heart and scares me on many levels. Yet, i have hope for the Obama future. My son will be proud that we did this. Yes, we can!
In tears. Just in tears. Our children are going to grow up in the Obama years. I’ve never had so much hope. I’m forever changed. Your words were perfect.
You think they are happy in American? You should see the celebrations in East Africa! Kenya declared today a national holiday. For real….Oh happy days….
I’m finally exhaling after holding my breath for the past six months. Part of me is saying “Is it real?” and the other part of me is just so damned happy—like the sun is rising for the first time in 8 long years!
I wept too when I realized what a different world my children are going to be lucky enough to grow up in. I am getting teary now just thinking about it. It’s wonderfully overwhelming. I am the proudest I’ve ever been of being an American. I feel like the entire world is celebrating for us, for themselves, for their children.
I don’t understand people- so argumentative toward Katie and then everyone glosses over Victoria’s comment which is 100% more disturbing. Is it simply because she posted as “Victoria” and not anon? At least Katie acknowledges the fact that we should put all the stupidity from the campaign aside and join forces. And Victoria is trying to protect her unborn children from a Democratic African American President?! Congratulations Victoria on your attempt to breed a new race of assholes.
Anon – that’s why I didn’t respond. Should I protest: “Oh, no Victoria! Have lots of children, please!” I’d rather leave that one be.
The election of Obama as President is a wonderful victory for the whole country, whether you voted for him or not. I ended up not voting for him but I’m happy that he won and I’m excited for some of the much-needed changes I hope he’ll bring to our country.
Donna, you are perhaps the biggest person among us. Thank you for that perspective.
I’m pregnant right now, and if it takes (my odds aren’t great), this kid will be born during a Democratic administration. My older kid was born in 1998, under Clinton, whereas my younger kid was born in 2005. Guess which kid screams all the time? Guess which kid is super mellow and even-tempered? I’m thinking an Obama baby is bound to be awesome. I feel a little bit bad for my out-of-luck 2005 kid, although I was born during Nixon and I guess I turned out okay-ish.
“during the Obama years” just gave me the goosebumps. Awesome.
After reading your eloquent and passion-filled assessment of the election night speeches and their aftermath, I was struck by the responses of those who chose to agree with you and those who chose to lecture you. I side with the cheerleaders. There will be plenty of time to be sad and reflective. Now is the time to call for a better day. Those who choose to modify our happiness with words of moderation do so at their peril. I say it’s Obama Land today and maybe forever. But at least for today let us have our timr in the sun.
Yes but some of our kids cannot have married parents. I am pissed off California so…Let’s fight back on Proposition 8. Let’s boycott California wines, produce and travel. Let’s publicize it. Let’s embarrass them. It worked a few years ago in Colorado. What do say?
Oh my Lord – Victoria! Word, Liz, let’s not attempt to encourage Vicky to procreate.I have never felt more hopeful about the future for my yet-to-be conceived babies. And as they grow up (hopefully to be open-minded, free-thinking, unselfish individuals), I will tell them – likely repeatedly – the story of the night the world changed for the better.
It is so amazing. The pit in my stomach is finally gone. Our kids will grow up in the Obama years. What a great blessing!
It’s pretty great to see this whole thing through our childrens’ eyes. To think: they do not see Obama as a brown man doing the impossible or Hilary as a woman crashing through a rock-hard glass ceiling. The fact that they do not know or understand how historic all of this really is makes all of it even more amazing.
That is so beautiful. I saw footage of the celebration in NY and am so jealous that I was not there.
You are so right. That gave me the chills. My four year old recognizes Obama and proudly says his name everytime she sees him. It’s great!
This post was so beautifully written and so touching. I almost started crying again.
I might be too late to comment… I’ve had to step away from the blog world for a while, but can I just say, as a Canadian of American heritage, I never thought I’d see this day and I am SO GLAD I was wrong. Congratulations America! You did it!
A good friend of mine woke her 12-year-old son and made him watch Obama’s speech…watching from here in Canada had its own kind of specialness. I felt so tearfully happy and hopeful for all of my American friends.
“Like a triumph of hope over hatred. Of progress over fear.”More like… “D.C. business as usual” as Obama begins to break his election promises by hiring slimy lobbyists for his “new” administration.