With the election over, I'm enjoying a historical night. In my idealistic world (with the decision made), I hope it's a time that everyone can reflect on what this milestone means for our country. As a minority, it renews a sense of empowerment that an entire country can not "look past" a cultural membership but accept it as a strength needed in a leader. I'm inspired by the energy that this campaign has created and looking forward to what a good dose of hope can do for our country.
[Side note: For a less sentimental account of my personal voting experience (twas not without it's challenges!), read today's other post.]
I'll leave you with a few words that empower and inspire...
"Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek." President Elect Barack Obama (via Poppingbubbles)
And the part of his acceptance speech:
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 the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen; by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the very first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different; that their voice could be that difference.
It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled. Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America.
[Graphic caption: Campaign poster with graphic design of Barack Obama in red, white, and blue with the word Hope at the bottom of the portrait.]
It sounds and maybe seems strange to some that I was happy to even be mentioned. As the nation's largest minority group, we should always be included-but we're not. When I looked up these words to share, I realized something else. He chose to recognize OUR identity in distinction. Instead of being the "not" category, it's our identity that is emphasized. It's a hopeful sign that disability was chosen as a prideful and important word on this important night.
[Photo caption (below): Me holding up my "I Voted Today" sticker and smiling.]
What are your reactions to the night?
