Well, last night was certainly a night I won’t forget. The images of people in Times Square…Grant Park…and throughout the world were amazing! John McCain delivered a speech with such a powerful tone of grace that even more defines him as a true American hero, while Obama’s speech was historic.
It was a night where I once again was reminded of the power and privelige of democracy. It may not be the kind of “change” many voted for, but how can we ignore the fact that the people SPOKE and a new president was ELECTED. I’m very grateful to have the freedom to choose my voice!
Again, I thought Obama’s speech was historic. He didn’t gloat…he was humble and unifiying. But there was one particlular image that brought me to tears. Sitting on the couch going back and forth between conversing with my wife, and watching the TV, I found my eyes glued to the screen when the camera went to the Rev. Jesse Jackson standing in the crowd at Grant Park waiting to hear what our new president would say.
Look at his face. Look at those tears. They symbolize so much.
While I havn’t always liked Rev. Jackson’s apporach to race issues, he certainly has been a constant voice in bringing racial equality and healing to America. He walked with MLK…was with him when he died…has given his life to further the dream.
Rev. Jackson hasn’t always been very kind or supportive of Obama, but last night none of that mattered. There was healing going on…hope for a better future…the realization of a dream. It was a powerful thing to witness and as I cried, I hoped that I would not soon forget what I as a white man, US citizen, and Christ-follower was experiencing.
What moment from last night will stick with you? Please feel free to share your thoughts…
Love and Peace.
7 responses so far ↓
EA // November 5, 2008 at 7:44 pm |
I was also really moved last night as I watched the speeches. I was kind of shocked by my own emotion as it seemed that it took Obama actually being elected for me to find out what it meant for our nation.
Over the campaign cycle I moved from being a grudging Obama voter to a marginally enthusiastic Obama voter. But after my trip to the polls yesterday, seeing people excited and involved…and then seeing the tears and the jubilation of so many of those who were so heavily invested in supporting Obama, well, I suspended my cynicism and got a little choked up.
Good for him to say “yes we can” and dare us to dream a little. I don’t expect magic cure all pills or a cavalcade of prosperity dust, but I saw a lot of hopeful people last night and that made me happy….dare I say optimistic.
my // November 5, 2008 at 11:23 pm |
I was also moved to tears last night when I realized that the American public didn’t really care about who would honor and protect our Constitution…. they were only interested in the fact that the first “black” person was elected president. I am so sad that this election was based on the color of one’s skin instead of the ability to run a country. The fact that he only has 6% black, 50% white and 44% Muslim did not seem to matter. As a Christian I value the Christian men who wrote our constitution and fought for it and I hope that it NEVER changes. We do not need that kind of change! I will pray for our country and our president but I will not be a part to “color”. God does not classify us as to our color and I won’t either!
rexhamilton // November 5, 2008 at 11:31 pm |
Thanks MY for stopping by, but I must disagree with you that America was “only intereseted in the fact that first black person was elected president”.
The fact that you state he’s 44% Muslim tells me you put about as much thought into why you wouldn’t vote for him as you have about why the millions of others who did.
Matt // November 6, 2008 at 12:04 am |
This is not very sentimental of me but I was relieved to have a decision without a bunch of recounting and wrangling. It was a relief to just have it done so we can move on. After the last two elections, I think I was subconsciously expecting there to be a slew of voter fraud allegations and a hanging-chad death-match. But no such drama.
Obama-Lama-Ding-Dong and it was over!
Lacey // November 6, 2008 at 12:24 am |
Voting this year was my second time that I got to vote for a president and it is an amazing process. I feel that I was apart of this process more becaue I was wrestling with who I wanted to vote for. I didn’t really like either of the canidates very well and actually was unsure who to vote for until I got my ballot. Ok to put all that aside, it was a weird night. It was amazing and exciting to see the accomplishment that has come to Obama, but then there is the uncertainty of what is to come. I have seen what this last 8 years has been like, I am not sure of what is to come and where do Alex and I fit into the picture of the USA. How are we going to fit in to the economy? For me there is excitement and uncertainty, which I feel is ok. I am glad that it is over. I am excited to see what is to come, but uncertain what the future holds. For me it was a night of mixed emotions and I am ok with that. I know that I am still praying for Obama, he has a big job on his hands and any of the other elected authority, which I should do and continue to do.
Patricia S. // November 6, 2008 at 4:43 am |
Well, it has been an array of emotions over the last day and a half. I have to say that I too did not really care much for either candidates, and because I voted for McCain as the lesser of the two evils. Yet, time will only tell if that assumption is true. I did however support Sarah Palin, because I know she is a Christ-follower.
Let me say though, that I was not surprised that Obama won. It is true that this nation is ready for a change, a lot has happened in the last 8 years, yet I’m not confident he is the one to lead us out of it. While I am excited for the fact that we have the first black president, I personally feel that Obama is a smooth talker and time will only tell how our nation will be four years from now. I’m willing to admit that I could be wrong, but I presently feel things are going to get worse, not necessarily because Obama is in office, but because the Bible says in the last days, it will.
So, what am I going to do, simply pray for our nation, because God can sway the heart of anybody. It will be interesting to see what happens in the years to come, yet I have a feeling it is not going to be good…
C // November 6, 2008 at 8:46 am |
I am neither white nor black. I am not happy that Barack Obama won. I felt McCain was better equipped than him to run this country especially during this times. I felt democracy won, but how i viewed America changed. I realized there are so many ignorant voters, big factor why Obama won. When i ask Obama supporters i know, about negative issues on the news about him, they have no clue at all about what i’m talking about. I think the fact that he is black has been a big factor he won. Having a black President sounds great, but i think he is not the one for this honorable job. I feel if i have a choice, i dont even want to be part of a team with Obama as the leader…. but democracy won. I guess i have to learn to accept it; Hope for the best. I know for sure God has a plan.