Yes we did.
That’s all that keeps going through my head this morning. In between CRYING. I think I am PMSing in ADDITION to the overwhelming feelings that are embroiled in the frustrations and elation that I have felt this whole election season.
Yesterday before I took the boys to vote, Liam said to me, “Mama I hope Barack wins, but if John McCain wins… that will be ok, right?”
Stopped me in my tracks.
Yes, I told him. Yes we’ll be ok. Mummy might be disappointed but WE will be ok.
And I hope that some McCain supporters can feel that same way today.
I think I am most caught up in the historic implications of this day. I cried like a baby during his speech. As I tried to explain to my husband. I grew up in a town with ONE BLACK FAMILY.
ONE BLACK FAMILY.
Crying. AGAIN.
To see the lines of people to vote. Like there were back when Americans were FIRST ALLOWED TO VOTE. To remember the people who died so we could vote. Women who were beaten and scorned so *I* could vote. Black and brown and other people who were beaten and scorned and burned and dragged so Barack could run for President.
For my sons to grow up in a world where their first president in memory looks DIFFERENT than them…. well that alone makes me feel like they will have the chance to be better people than my husband and I alone can foster.
I don’t know where to go with this post, truthfully. This ride has been so extraordinary for me. And while *I* will be forever changed by witnessing the United States citizens turning out in record numbers to elect the first African-American President… I am most thrilled that my sons will not know that their world has been changed for a while. To them it will just BE that we have a black President. Nothing special…that will come later for them… when they are older and can understand things about prejudice and discrimination. For now… today…. Liam will think it NORMAL and RIGHT for any color person to achieve greatness.
And that is a victory for everyone.
God Bless America.
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today!
-MLK 1963
Click here to access my few pictures from my volunteer opportunity in Manchester, NH that got me a handshake with Barack.
Filed under: Election 08, Parenthood, Us
Beautifully written
What a beautiful, thoughtful post. What a beautiful, hopeful day. The future looks a little brighter today. Yes We Can!
nicely put.
mason is still to young to understand, but I went out andbought a copy of this mornings paper so he’d have a piece of history.
[...] @ Raising My Boys wrote a truly invigorating and thoughtful post about her feelings of elation over the results of [...]
It is a great day indeed.
Awesome post, Suser. I agree completely. I am proud that America took a big step in looking at the man, not the color.
“I am most thrilled that my sons will not know that their world has been changed for a while. To him it will just BE that we have a black President. Nothing special…that will come later for them… when they are older and can understand things about prejudice and discrimination. For now… today…. Liam will think it NORMAL and RIGHT for any color person to achieve greatness.”
This is exactly what I was trying to put into words this morning when I thought about my kids at work. You did a great job with this. At work – we just talked about the fact that we’ll have a new president soon. I didn’t mention the historical impact at all, they just wouldn’t get it. To them, it’s just another person, which is great, right?!
Nice post!
I was thinking of that this morning as well, Suz. My HOPE is that I have to explain to my children WHY this election is so important when they are older…
I’m feeling the same way. I’m so overwhelmingly excited for our kids’ generation.
Every time I see pictures of his family on the stage, I am breathless. So incredible.
Awesome post. And yes some of the McCain supporters..(Now that sounds like a Jock Strap joke in the making) are Okay with Obama as the next president.