Election Day Posted by: MichaelW
on Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Congrats to Barack Obama. No matter how much I disagree with, well, everything that you stand for, and all the policies you will impose upon us, I can't help but feel proud of my country for electing you. It shows just how far we've come as a nation.
For those as disappointed as I am in tonight's results, here's a musical nightcap from Nora Jones called "My Dear Country":
"My Dear Country"
'Twas Halloween and the ghosts were out, And everywhere they'd go, they shout, And though I covered my eyes I knew, They'd go away.
But fear's the only thing I saw, And three days later 'twas clear to all, That nothing is as scary as election day.
But the day after is darker, And darker and darker it goes, Who knows, maybe the plans will change, Who knows, maybe he's not deranged.
The news men know what they know, but they, Know even less than what they say, And I don't know who I can trust, For they come what may.
'cause we believed in our candidate, But even more it's the one we hate, I needed someone I could shake, On election day.
But the day after is darker, And deeper and deeper we go, Who knows, maybe it's all a dream, Who knows if I'll wake up and scream.
I love the things that you've given me, I cherish you my dear country, But sometimes I don't understand, The way we play.
I love the things that you've given me, And most of all that I am free, To have a song that I can sing, On election day.
I understand that the race aspect of this election is important to a lot of people, but honestly, I’m just bored with the idea of "the first African American person to do this or that". It became obvious to me about 20 years ago that race really isn’t a barrier to becoming anything in this country anymore. The fact that Obama is African American just seemed mundane to me.
I hope that his election is a catharsis of some kind for all these people who can’t seem to let go of their feeling of victimhood or their guilty conscience regarding race. I hope in the upcoming elections the race of the candidates will be talked about less and less and less. Maybe one day even Americans who happen to be black will vote against other Americans who happen to be black. Hard to envision that happening anytime soon, but hey "I have a dream".
Maybe one day even Americans who happen to be black will vote against other Americans who happen to be black. Hard to envision that happening anytime soon, but hey "I have a dream".
Happens all the time, if the black candidate happens to be a Republican.
