Yes We Can…and We Did!

Change has come to America and what a wonderful change it is.

Yes, the election of President-elect Barack Obama is as historic as it is momentous.  And while I thought I understood the ramifications of his election, I simply wasn’t prepared for the effect it would have on me or our nation.

When the hour struck 11 on Tuesday night, the first person I heard to say the words, "Barack Obama is projected to be the next President of the United States of America" was Keith Olbermann.  As I quickly flipped through the channels I heard those words repeated by Brit Hume, Katie Couric, Wolf Blitzer, Sheppard Smith and Charlie Gibson.  I eventually made my way back to MSNBC and watched history celebrated across the country.  

For the next five minutes and forty-two seconds there were no words spoken by the anchors or commentators at MSNBC — only cut backs to live simultaneous celebrations in Grant Park, Chicago; Times Square, NY; Harlem, NY; Spelman College in Atlanta and Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta — there could have been more locations but honestly don’t remember.  It was only after Steve Wonder’s Signed, Sealed, Delivered started blaring from the celebration at Spelman College that I realized tears were rolling down my face and that my phone was vibrating non-stop by numerous text messages.

In that moment the first thought that came to mind was, I wish mom was here to see this.  My mom, who many of you know passed away in January, had this uncanny way of saying the word “wow” in a tone which made you think she was a 14-year old school girl.  Whenever she got really excited about something that was how she responded.  She would have been besides herself at that moment.  My second though went to my grandfather, who was my male role model growing up.  He had a smile that could make you weak in the knees, which is why he was STILL very popular with ladies well into his 80’s.  That smile would have been larger than life at that moment.  I just wanted both of them, she who came to this country in the 1960’s and he who followed in 1973 from their native Jamaica to realize the American dream, to be sitting next to me on the couch taking in the moment as it unfolded.

The rest of the night was just as amazing.  John McCain’s speech was eloquent and sad and once again made me grateful that the “real John McCain” decided to sit out this campaign.  

And when the President-elect and his family took to the stage in Grant Park, you couldn't help but feel the goose bumps.  The roar of the crowd (estimated to be upwards of 125,000 people) when Obama, Michelle and his daughters Malia and Sasha walked across the stage was simply incredible.    

His speech may have been short on words but it was deep in message.  Here are some of the passages that bear repeating…

“If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.”

“It’s been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America.”

“The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America – I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you – we as a people will get there.”

“And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of our world – our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand. To those who would tear this world down – we will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security – we support you. And to all those who have wondered if America’s beacon still burns as bright – tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from our the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope.”

His speech, the sight of the many faces at Grant Park and the awesome number of estimated people (71 million) who we now know were glued to their TV sets makes this as Keith Olbermann pointed out, “the Man on the Moon” moment for many of us who were too young or not born when Neil Armstrong took that “giant leap for mankind” by becoming the the first man to walk on the moon in 1969.

The awesome celebrations continued well into Wednesday in cities across the country.  Here in New York, by 10 AM, you couldn’t find a newspaper anywhere.  In fact by late afternoon, people were lined up outside of the headquarters of The New York Times after word leaked that they were printing a rare second run of the day's newspaper.  It was a sight to be seen.  The day was capped off in the Big Apple by the lighting of the Empire State Building – all blue in honor of President-elect Obama.

The emails and text messages from friends around the world have yet to stop coming in. Friends and readers of my Blog are overjoyed at the outcome of the election.  Some were amazed that they had to stand in line just to vote, others were disappointed at the way some of their friends voted and reacted to the outcome, and some, who were unable to participate in our democratic process due to citizenship issues, were disappointed that they couldn’t be an active participant in this victory. From the young — the 2 /12 year old son of my best friend who shouted out," Barack 'Bama, mommy," 2 days before election day when he saw a commercial for then Senator Obama on TV or the daughters/nieces of my "sisters" Di & Eileen who watched a portion of the historic election night coverage, to the old, Ms. Ann Nixon Cooper, the 106-year old woman from Georgia the President-elect made a point of honoring during his acceptance speech — everyone has felt the excitement of this moment. 

Amazingly, these are the things Barack Obama envisioned from the day he first entered the Presidential race.  He knew his message of hope and change was just what the country needed, and while I will admit it took me sometime to understand and appreciate his message, there is no denying it now.  This victory has brought us together as a nation.  And while there are those out there who are hoping he fails so they can stand up and say I told you so, today they are in the minority.  For today, there is no place for hate or for those who choose to hate. 

This is why as disappointing as it is that the people of California chose to ban gays from marriage or the fact that the people of Arkansas chose to ban unmarried couples (their not-so-clever way of saying gay couples) from adopting or becoming foster parents, we have to stand up, dust off the hate and carry on.  We may never be able to rid the world of hate and those who embrace it, but we can and must continue to chip away at it.

There will be plenty of time to discuss those issues and wage those battles.  But for now, we continue the countdown to the end of the Bush reign (75 days) and look with anticipation to 12:01 PM, Tuesday, January 20, 2009 when Hail-to-the Chief is played for the first time in honor of the President of the United States – Barack Obama.