Yes We Must
Big sigh...lotsa work ahead of us, and we won’t even see bottom of this financial mess for another two years. But there is at least a sense of turning this ship of state around. Not only was their relief and joy painted across myriad faces, of every color and age, in many different parts of the country, there was also a hunger to get started on the job of rebuilding. Back up a van to the White House and let’s make the change now. Why wait ten weeks?
When the networks finally announced the projection of victory – holding out as they felt they needed to until the polls closed in California, Oregon, and Washington and delivered the electoral coup de grâce – the elation brought tears to the eyes in our living room. Part of it was the news; part were the television pictures of the celebrants. The ecstasy reflected in the post-election emails, from friends and friends of friends, was invigorating.
Did our nation turn a corner with this election? The world sure thinks so. Hope has sprung up everywhere; gratitude that Americans finally said no to the arrogant, brutal, anachronistic posture of the past weight years. The city on the hill is going to shine again. Charles Blow wrote in The New York Times a piece entitled, “And Then They Wept,” as poignant a view of what Obama’s election means to the history of blacks in America as you might see.
Good knows there’s much to overcome. Some 56 million Americans cast their ballots for the Republican ticket, despite its desertion by much of the conservative intelligentsia, the scurrilous campaign, the primitive Palin and the malleable McCain.
Congratulations to the Arizona senator, however, for the concession speech, one of the best he read in the entire campaign, and particularly for tamping down the hostility in the crowd.
The incoming administration has a great people behind it, within our borders and beyond.
They are saying, Yes we can.
©2008 SetonnoteS
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