Election Night In Chicago

I don’t know who this person is, but I think they captured the night very well.  Song is Radiohead’s “House of Cards” from In Rainbows.

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.

Fist Pound

Taking It All In

What can you say?

These thoughts are a bit jumbled together, but they are all I can muster right now.  More structured posts will come later.

As I sit here watching President Barack Obama’s acceptance speech for the second time, I can say that I have never been more proud to be a young person, to be a Chicago citizen, but most importantly, to be an American Citizen.  Few events have been more symbolic of what America stands for and what America can be to it’s citizens than the events of tonight.

Congratulations America, you have grown a lot.

I have not lived long, but cannot help but think that today is the first day of the next era of my life.  Barack Obama being elected president will not have a dramatic change on what kind of job I get, how much money I make, or how I can support my family.  It will, however, change the lives of millions of people around me.  As CNN analyst Roland Martin, who is African-American, said, blacks across the country can say to their children “yes, you can be President”, and actually mean it.

I will write many posts on this subject, many of which will contain clichés and tired old patriotism.  But I will mean every word of it.  Today was a big loss to the people who hate our freedom and our will to live.  It was a victory for all who love this great country, whether they realize or not.

Why I Am Voting For Barack Obama

Note: I do not affiliate myself with either major party or consider myself “left” or “right”, “liberal” or “conservative”, whatever those labels mean these days. I think that both major parties are a bit of an embarrasment, personally. But that’s beside the point. When faced with an issue, I try to look at from my own personal perspective, but also the perspective of millions of other people. I feel that all too often people take a selfish approach on issues. And ultimately, I end up falling somewhere in the middle on just about everything. To me, no one issue is particularly more important than the rest. I say this not to be neutral but to let you know that I have no particularly strong leanings either way.

A lot of people say that the President of The United States of America does not really have the power that the position is perceived to have.  This may be true, however, the person holding this position has power that cannot be measured by any tangible means: they have the power to inspire and comfort millions of people in this country and billions abroad.  The world is at a crossroads in many ways.  Justifiable or not, much of the world doesn’t quite look at us the same way that they may have in the past.  In my opinion, we are in need of a president that can inspire and reassure not only American citizens, but the people all over the world.

John McCain is an American hero in many ways.  From his tremendous sacrifice during the Vietnam War to his dedicated service in politics since then, he has earned my respect as a man and as someone who cares about the country and the people.  In different times, I believe he would make a good president.  But now are not those times.

Now, for these times, I feel that Barack Obama is the best man to be the face of this country.  A lot of McCain supporters say that Barack Obama is all talk, that his rhetoric is just fluff with no substance.  In truth, Obama is an inexperienced politician.  He has only had three solid years in Washington.  I feel, however, that his ability to lead far outweighs his lack of experience.  When I see my peers volunteering and busting their butts for him, or the way he has ran a solid, relatively clean campaign, I am amazed.  This man has inspired thousands of young people, the very same people that are thought to not care about anything but Facebook and Xbox, to get up and do something, to feel strongly about something that doesn’t affect their day to day lives.  To me, that is a leader.

Regardless of who wins, tomorrow will be a historic day.  Vote Obama, vote McCain, vote whoever.  But please vote.