Eight years ago I cried when I looked at my small baby and thought about the world that he would grow up in.
We found ourselves mired in two wars.
We outed our own CIA member.
At a critical time we trashed our own enviroment so recklessly. We had to take our own government to court in order to be able to drink clean water and breathe clean air. At the same time we did not make any advances in green technology because we funded the coffers of oil barrons.
We adopted a very narrow view of what type of person is acceptable and entitled to the human rights.
We alienated the rest of the world and undermined our position as a "superpower."
We didn't recognize that many citizens were very unhappy with the status quo. Those who disagreed with policies were, at the least, marginalized.
There is more (supreme court, etc) but I am tired.
Tonight I cry because there is hope that we can make some amends. Obama is not afraid to address these issues out in the open. I have hope that we can be a country every citizen has a fair shake and a voice. A place where caring about your community above your wallet is not considered a un-American.
Hope is what it's all about. Things improve when we have confidence. Obama inspires us. And racial barriers are coming down. Things really could change, and he just seems a class act. This is a historical night. If McCain had won, it would still be historical because of the first woman VP.
McCain really seems like a good guy, and I'm sure things would have been fine under him. But Obama just seems to have that little bit more. People want change, and another party may be more likely to bring it than the same one again.
Kerri
__________________
Mama to Cole (9), Naomi (8), Adam (8), and Noah (5)
All adopted - All breastfed
Married to David for 12 years
Slowly earning a Bachelors Degree in Midwifery
We have moved to New Zealand to make it happen
I felt overwhelmed to know that anyone can now tell their children, "yes, you can be president when you grow up." We have finally broken down that wall for all children to come. It is a milestone that was too long in coming and my heart is smiling.
unless you've got a girl. Hopefully someday there will be a candidate (who is not Hillary, pretty please!) so we can break down the gender wall as well.
yep, too excited to do anything other than dance a jog. Even those of you who are upset must understand that history was made tonight. And that for most of us it has nothing to do with why we voted for him. I think we are mostly after the fact recognizing how far this country has come in 40 years. After seeing that video abt womens suffrage this AM, I was reminded how far we have come as a country-- in a mere 100 years. Think about how far we can go in the next 100. Think about what changes your lifetime will hold. Pretty powerful and amazing stuff.
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Heather , mama to Liam, born 12-19-01, and Simon, born 04-17-05 wife to Mark, married 09-23-97
Location: I met one man who was wounded in love, I met another man who was wounded with hatred, And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
Posts: 14,239
Quote:
Originally Posted by Korwynne
unless you've got a girl. Hopefully someday there will be a candidate (who is not Hillary, pretty please!) so we can break down the gender wall as well.
I was thinking the same thing. I wonder who she will be? And I hope she comes along soon.
Hope is what it's all about. Things improve when we have confidence. Obama inspires us. And racial barriers are coming down. Things really could change, and he just seems a class act. This is a historical night. If McCain had won, it would still be historical because of the first woman VP.
McCain really seems like a good guy, and I'm sure things would have been fine under him. But Obama just seems to have that little bit more. People want change, and another party may be more likely to bring it than the same one again.
Kerri
__________________
Wendy
Mommy to Lucas 3-18-99 , Ethan 3-1-02 and Olivia 8-14-05
~My actions are dictated by the phase of the moon~
In a political climate where it's almost unheard of to own the words you're speaking, I've always been amazed and thrilled that Barack Obama consistantly wrote or at least cowrote much of his public speech.
Our President-elect is eloquent, well-educated, and intelligent. Something about that makes me unbelievably happy.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mammakat
Eight years ago I cried when I looked at my small baby and thought about the world that he would grow up in.
We found ourselves mired in two wars.
We outed our own CIA member.
At a critical time we trashed our own enviroment so recklessly. We had to take our own government to court in order to be able to drink clean water and breathe clean air. At the same time we did not make any advances in green technology because we funded the coffers of oil barrons.
We adopted a very narrow view of what type of person is acceptable and entitled to the human rights.
We alienated the rest of the world and undermined our position as a "superpower."
We didn't recognize that many citizens were very unhappy with the status quo. Those who disagreed with policies were, at the least, marginalized.
There is more (supreme court, etc) but I am tired.
Tonight I cry because there is hope that we can make some amends. Obama is not afraid to address these issues out in the open. I have hope that we can be a country every citizen has a fair shake and a voice. A place where caring about your community above your wallet is not considered a un-American.
ditto!
I'm so happy and hopeful and trying to soak it all up, bottle it and save it in my heart. This is an awesome moment in my life and the lives of millions.
I can only answer for myself. I voted for Obama for many reasons... first, I agree with his stand on the issues and that is the biggest reason he was my choice. We need health care coverage for our children, we need to roll back the tax cuts for the wealthiest persons, we need to insure that Roe vs Wade remains, we need to stop the economic bleeding in Iraq, we need a leader who believes in working for our environment, etc. However, there is a reason that I believe many voted for him... hope. They want someone who brings them a beacon of hope for change in a time when so many are losing jobs and homes, when so many choose between medicine and food, when so many are losing someone they love in Iraq. Obama is that beacon. He is dynamic, well-spoken and inspires hope in so many people. He is a uniter.
As far as him being black, I bawled like a baby when they called the election. I didn't vote for him because he is black, but I felt overwhelmed to know that anyone can now tell their children, "yes, you can be president when you grow up." We have finally broken down that wall for all children to come. It is a milestone that was too long in coming and my heart is smiling.
And I just have to say I thought both speeches tonight were great!
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Blessings, Cindy
Avebury, England
"Death is that state in which one exists only in the
memory of others, which is why it is not an end.
No goodbyes, just good memories."
Tasha Yar-Star Trek The Next Generation
So, here's the thing: you know how you just don't understand why people are so passionate about him? Many of us probably have a hard time connecting with how you could be fearful about the future for your family and your rights under him.
So, you asked why people are so excited about him, I'm respectfully and compassionately asking what it is about him that scares you so much.
I'll hop in here on this one. Not that McCain is any better, but...
First off, let me just start by saying I think it is healthy to be cautious about believing in people in power because of how they portray themselves and have themselves portrayed in the media. I am a patriot and I believe in the Constitution and I like to keep in mind the principles upon which our country was set up. Not to blatantly compare the two, but please remember Hitler himself was very charismatic, he told Germans what they wanted to hear and he made them rich.
As for Obama, I think he's a creative word manipulator, if I can call it that. I do not think we are going to see a true end to the war in Iraq and I hope I'm wrong on this one... BUT... ((and this is my main thing and has been since the beginning)) His website, as I quoted somewhere earlier has always said that he is not calling for a true pullout of Iraq, as he leads everyone to believe.
Second, well, we'll just sum this up to say that he keeps some very sketchy company. I think one of the best ways to tell something about someone in Washington is to tell who they are A) related to B)sponsored by and 3)including in their list of advisors.
Obama works with sketchy and elitist individuals, such as Robert Wolf, Buffett, Paul Volcker, Susan Rice and Brzezinski of all people! Yeah, let's get some more advice from that guy!
I do not buy his phoney rhetoric about confronting poverty and social inequality. Given these big business and Trilateral Commission ties and the fact that his incessant promises of change aren't backed by any amazing and realistic economic program that actually challenges the profit interests of giant corporations and Wall Street, I call BS!
Anyone who has ties to David Rockefeller with one person in between is not quite on my list of people to be trusted. Sorry.
Neither is someone who is actually related to Dick Cheney, Harry Truman, AND the Bushs, etc. etc. etc.
Oi, there are so many reasons. I had been on the fence about McCain. I had respected him in so many ways. But when McCain picked Palin my respect for him started to go down. Then with all the negative campaigning done by the Republican party both nationally and here in MN it just killed all respect I had for McCain. If McCain had stayed positive, not allowed the negative stuff, and chosen a better VP candidate then I would have had a hard time choosing.
The things I love about Obama are many. He's actually known poverty, especially in his early formative years. He was mostly raised by a single mother. Yes, he was fed with food stamps and yes that makes a difference in how I look at people. Obama stayed POSITIVE. He didn't belittle the people he was running against - he would talk about how his plan was different and how it would help most people. Obama's plans are balanced with a nod toward long term plans rather than instant gratification.
Obama has given me hope in the American Dream, which I thought was long dead.
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Elizabeth
Mama to Annabelle, a loving nine year old pet-lover!
In a political climate where it's almost unheard of to own the words you're speaking, I've always been amazed and thrilled that Barack Obama consistantly wrote or at least cowrote much of his public speech.
Our President-elect is eloquent, well-educated, and intelligent. Something about that makes me unbelievably happy.
Okay so as a busy man on the campaign trail co-wrote can mean anything. Honestly.... its all a matter of what you believe.
And I do not believe Avril Lavigne is a real song-writer, either.
The things I love about Obama are many. He's actually known poverty, especially in his early formative years. He was mostly raised by a single mother. Yes, he was fed with food stamps and yes that makes a difference in how I look at people. Obama stayed POSITIVE. He didn't belittle the people he was running against - he would talk about how his plan was different and how it would help most people. Obama's plans are balanced with a nod toward long term plans rather than instant gratification.
QUOTE]
From my understanding Obama was not exactly raised in poverty. The quote was, "For example, I was going to a fancy prep school, and my mother was on food stamps while she was getting her Ph.D."
Not that what he endured when he was three would really have a lasting effect on our presidential policy.....
Okay okay I'll stop trying to rain on your all's parade. Not that I want to do that anyway. I'm happy you all are happy. I hope you are right and that I am laughably wrong. ANd if I am I will admit it.
I don't trust you EITHER! 
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