We were up past midnight last night, watching election returns and then waiting for president-elect (how good does it feel to say that?) Obama’s speech. I find myself exhausted today, my eyeballs so heavy that they’re in danger of sinking into their cavities. And yet I am overjoyed. Last night we made history. I wouldn’t have missed this for the world.
Here are some of my fractured thoughts on the day.
On voting:
I harbor a secret conviction that Kristian and I are the only two people in America who didn’t have to wait in line to vote yesterday. We waltzed in and out in less time than it takes to pick up a pizza (calling first, of course!). Nomally I would have been psyched to avoid any sort of line. This time, however, it left me with a nagging fear that we have moved to a comunity that doesn’t vote. This bothers me. I’ll happily live with rich people, poor people, gays, straights, people who like covering their lawns in pink flamingos.
Where I don’t want to live is a community where people don’t vote.
Voting to me means optimism, hope, wanting what’s best for your country. To not vote (unless you have a damn good reason) says “I don’t care what direction we’re heading in. I’m just along for the ride.” I was terrified that we had moved into a community of apathy. A place where people don’t want to get involved.
Luckily, Kristian tells me, there were a lot of voters during other times. We just happened to be there during a lull. In that case, I guess that my little rant doesn’t mean much.
I hope.
On America’s First Black President:
Intellectually, I understood the historical importance of Barack Obama as president. How could you not? On an emotional level, it didn’t really hit home until last night. Watching Jesse Jackson cry at Obama’s rally last night, it finally sunk in. I hate to put word’s in his mouth, but the look on his face said (to me) “I never thought that I would live to see this.” Can you imagine? It was only 54 years ago that the United States had separate but equal on the books. And now we’ve elected our first black president.
We’ve come such a long way.
My nephew is two years old. He’s going to grow up never knowing a time when only rich, white men were our presidents. Sure, he had to live through two years of a Bush presidency, but he spent most of that time drooling and pooping his pants. I don’t think that he’ll emerge with any emotional trauma. Unlike the rest of us.Â
On Homophobic Ballot Issues:
The hope and joy that I experienced watching Barack Obama win the election were partially marred by the fact that several states voted for hate and bigotry yesterday. Fifty years from now (twenty, if we’re lucky), our children and grandchildren will look at ballot initiatives that strip gay people of the right to marry and adopt children as the distasteful anachronisms of yesteryear. At least, this is my profound hope. America seems poised to head towards tolerance and understanding. I just wish that it would happen sooner than later.Â
Even though Arizona, Arkansas and Florida passed equally hateful laws, none of it hit home like the passage of Proposition Eight in California. I think that my sadness stems from the fact that California, for a brief shining moment, allowed gay marriage. It just makes it all that much more horrible. Last year, I got all choked up watching gay couples pledge their love to each other. How could anyone object to something so beautiful? So happy? So heart-warming?
And how sad is it for all of the children in Arkansas who won’t be adopted or given foster homes because their state saw fit to ban adoption/fostering by unmarried couples? Is life in an institution really that much better than life in a loving home that happens to have two mommies or two daddies or a mommy and a daddy that never made it to the courthouse?
What are your thoughts on the election?
I’m simultaneously proud and depressed. My office was quiet today, somber, like everyone was in mourning. I had *one* co-worker (from another department) come downstairs to give me a high five. I’m seriously depressed by the attitudes I see in my neighbors.
On the other hand, I’m so proud that the rest of the country is filled with intelligent, forward-thinking people who helped make history. I’m proud to consider myself one of them, even if my personal vote was just one tiny little voice that was drowned in my state.
Hope, a lot of people voted early, too, which cut back on the lines in a lot of places. I didn’t have to wait more than 30 seconds either.
I’m so disappointed in Florida for passing Amendment 2 to define marriage. The ugliest sign I saw, bar none, said, “Vote Yes for Amendment 2 – Save a Child.” It’s a true mystery that on one hand, this state voted Obama into office and at the same time continued to promote bigotry against people who are gay.
What the hell does it matter to anyone who marries whom?
I didn’t wait for more than 5 minutes to vote and had the same fear about living in a community that doesn’t vote, but then I did some research on the number of polling places that we have, and it seemed like things were just really well organized to me. That’s my hope, at least.
I was thrilled with the presidential result, but disappointed in pretty much all of the other hateful measures that passed that you named.