Yes We Will

I am twenty years old.  Not quite a man yet, but I would like to think I have the capacity to think for myself, to understand things that go on in the world, and form educated, thoughtful opinions on matters.  I have been “aware” for over two years now.  Prior to my senior year of highschool, I tried to be an adult, but wasn’t quite ready.  Now, I feel I’m there.  I am starting to understand why things are the way they are and why they aren’t what we might want them to be.  Sometimes, it’s just the forces of nature, the forces of millions of people coexisting.  Other times, it’s the same sketchy processes being tried over and over again, but with no new results.  Rarely does this change.

What happened on Tuesday was one of the greatest things I have ever seen.  People of all ages participating with enthusiasm and happiness.  We may not have all had the same goal on the surface, but ultimately we all want the same thing deep down.  I have no doubt in my mind that most people love this country.  There are a million reasons why we are the greatest country in the world, the very fact that we can choose our leaders being one of them.  I can’t describe why I feel the way I do.  Maybe it was because it was my first time voting, but I do know that we came together on Tuesday.

I am very sad that not everyone feels as happy and hopeful as I do.  I wish everyone could experience the feeling of excitement that Barack Obama supporters are feeling.  I say that as if I have been a longtime supporter of Obama, but that is not true.  In truth, I have admired and been intrigued by Barack Obama since his acceptance speech for the US Senate in 2004.  I have not, however, contributed time or money to his campaign in any way.  I wasn’t ready to make a decision I felt was extremely important so early on.  For months my friends asked me “So do you know who you are gonna vote for?” and I would always give the same answer: “I haven’t decided yet”.  And I really had not.

A lot of people my age, and young people in general, jumped on the Barack Obama band wagon very early.  I say that not in a negative way, but there is really no other word to use.  Some of these people supported Barack Obama because it was seen as the cool or hip thing to do.  I don’t think it’s right to support something you don’t understand, but I can’t really be angry with someone my age supporting something positive, whether for the right reasons or not.  Because of this, I was very cautious in making my decisions and feeling my way around the political landscape.  As I explained earlier, I am very much in the middle on many issues.  My stance on the Iraq War has changed many times.  I still don’t really know how I feel about it.  My point is, that this was not an easy decision for me like it was for some.

Roughly three weeks ago, it hit me.  I would be part of a group that elected Barack Obama for the Presidency of the United States of America.  Not just the first African American president, but the first president in my lifetime who inspired me to be a better person.

What happened in Grant Park on Tuesday night was beautiful.  That is the only way to describe it.  Beautiful.  One million people joyfully and peacefully came together, in a city I love so much, to celebrate a human being who inspires them to be kinder, work harder, be better.  With the backdrop of those city lights, people cried tears of joy and yelled in happiness.  I was not there physically, but I felt like I was.  I felt like I was witnessing a new era my life starting right in front of me.  Even as I sit here at 4 in the morning, I feel like a better person in every aspect of my life, even in writing!

Regardless of what happens during the Obama administration, I have already reaped the benefits of the new presidency.  If you want something bad enough, and you are willing to come together with those around you and work hard enough, you can make anything happen.  I can’t imagine a better lesson.