It was a long day yesterday. Watching Keith Olbermann call it for Obama at 11 p.m. was sweet, but it didn't totally feel real. Then we went out on the street and found crowds gathered in the middle of Broad St., just like for the Phillies only sober. People throughout the city were cheering, or driving around honking their horns and screaming out of their car windows. We killed a couple of bottles of champagne and ended up on a fire escape eight floors up, just listening to the noise. I spent the last three days shouting to be heard as I trained people to phonebank, so I didn't feel like screaming, just hearing other people be happy.
Like the man said in his victory speech, the election itself is not what we're after. It was a Dem win, but it has to be a win for more people than just those who voted for Obama, or it was pointless. I hope that Obama keeps his central promise in last night's speech, the one about always being straight with us. Sometimes running things make promises of honesty harder to fulfill, although undoubtedly Obama's first instinct is to tell the truth.
He definitely was right that accomplishing change will require hard work, and I hope the people who mobilized to win the election will be called on to help win the policy fight. He was also right that change will require sacrifice, but Americans will sacrifice together if called upon to do it by someone who seems to understand what he is asking for, and why.
So, I'm very happy today, but worn out. I'm jubilant that a huge part of humanity who felt disregarded see recognition of themselves as worthy in the face of the new American president. It was wonderful to hear the cheers and the car horns. I just need more sleep now.
Nice payoff for all those hours volunteering, Mithras -- thank you for leading the way.
--Darjeeling
Posted by: Darjeeling | November 05, 2008 at 08:40 PM
it's because of you, dude.
thank you.
Posted by: deb | November 11, 2008 at 01:27 AM