I didn't cry last night in the first excitement, but give me the Yes, We Can music video or a slideshow of people all over the world reacting to the news of President-elect Obama's victory, and I cry over and over again. The little part of me that thought that the Republican establishment would still steal it away by fraud or deceit (witness: Florida - 2000, Ohio - 2004) is finally starting to rest.
"We did it." I keep thinking, "We did it." Even though I personally did very little, nothing but believe and cast one single vote and write a few posts here that most likely changed no one's mind, because most people have pretty strong opinions about things like this.
We did it - we elected a black man to the highest office in our country, not another old white man.
We did it - we elected a president who calls us to unity, instead of a man whose campaign told us that we were not "real Americans" if we disagreed with him.
We did it - we elected a president who reminds us to hope when things look difficult.
We did it - we elected a president who has lived overseas and seen the world, and who will govern, of course, for this country, but also for everyone else.
They told us that we were too young, that we were too inexperienced, that we were too hopeful. They told us that our candidate was the wrong color. But we did it.
One man cannot change everything, but this man can change some things, and for the first time in eight years, I can believe that the changes our President brings will make things better.
We did it once, yesterday. We have four years to do what we can.
So here it is, once again:
"We did it." I keep thinking, "We did it." Even though I personally did very little, nothing but believe and cast one single vote and write a few posts here that most likely changed no one's mind, because most people have pretty strong opinions about things like this.
We did it - we elected a black man to the highest office in our country, not another old white man.
We did it - we elected a president who calls us to unity, instead of a man whose campaign told us that we were not "real Americans" if we disagreed with him.
We did it - we elected a president who reminds us to hope when things look difficult.
We did it - we elected a president who has lived overseas and seen the world, and who will govern, of course, for this country, but also for everyone else.
They told us that we were too young, that we were too inexperienced, that we were too hopeful. They told us that our candidate was the wrong color. But we did it.
One man cannot change everything, but this man can change some things, and for the first time in eight years, I can believe that the changes our President brings will make things better.
We did it once, yesterday. We have four years to do what we can.
"Yes, we can to justice and equality.
Yes, we can to opportunity and prosperity.
Yes, we can heal this nation
Yes, we can repair this world.
Yes, we can.
We know the battle ahead will be long,
but always remember
that no matter what obstacles stand in our way
nothing can stand in the way of the power of millions of voices
calling for change.
And together, we will begin the next great chapter
in the American story
with three words that will ring
from coast to coast
from sea to shining sea.
Yes, we can."
~ Barack Obama, 8 Jan 2008
So here it is, once again:
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