General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThis will give you a boost of energy...a friend's facebook post
4 years ago I voted for Barack Obama in New York.
On election day my wife and I waited in line for over 4 hours to vote. Everybody it seemed turned out in our neighborhood! People were videotaping the line itself in astonishment of the sheer size. I remember feeling so proud to be an American and in the voting booth I took a snapshot of the ballot with my jankity camera phone.
That night I had a rehearsal in Times Square. The whole time I was glued to the radio listening in on the results as they were coming in. Crowds of people were beginning to form outside and with each state being claimed for Obama a roar filled the air of Times Square.
FINALLY we were done with rehearsal and all I could think about was getting home to be with my wife to witness this historic moment...I'll never forget "trying" to run through Times Square to get to the train among thousands of people squished NO, STANDING ON TOP OF EACH OTHER watching the jumbo screens and shouting in joy as we were getting closer and closer to that magical #270.
I think I was the only one headed down into the subway and as soon as I went through the turnstile I heard it. The ROAR of a lifetime. Bigger than any NYE Roar...BIGGER than the Blue Angels. HE had won. Waiting for the train never felt so good.
I knew that the people who were on the train still didn't know (because cell phones didn't get reception at that time) so I couldn't wait to tell them! What news!!! As the train doors opened I rushed in and shouted. OBAMA WON! OBAMA WON! and the whole car leapt to their feet and started hugging each other. What a feeling! Now all I needed to do was get home before his acceptance speech! I wanted to see this LIVE!
As if the train conductor knew, the train was at my stop in record time. I got off at Franklin Ave and ran all the way home, cars honking, and people shouting out their windows all the way. Did I miss it? Was I too late? I ran to our friends apt. where my wife was. As soon as I stepped in the door, not 5 mins later...he gave his acceptance speech.
A few months later Lila and I scraped together what little money we had and hopped on a bus for D.C. for the Inauguration. It was a zoo, but SO SO worth it. We were with our friends standing in that FREEZING weather. I've never been so cold in my life! BUT it was worth it.
After it was all said and done and we were riding the bus home to NYC I knew that it was going to be a difficult journey. Our economy was on the verge of collapse, two wars, and soooo much hatred and racism for him to overcome...but I had hope. I still have hope.
Now most of my friends have kids (lol) and I myself have a son we are back living in the Bay Area and loving it. I have to have hope for our future. Hope that our son will make this world a better place for his children (if he has them) just like I'm trying to make this world a better place for him, and my parents before me etc etc etc.
BUT, just as anyone who's been involved in teaching, working in a stubborn (afraid of change) environment, or has kids of their own knows...EVERYTHING takes baby steps. This isn't a drive-thru. There's no "Animal Style Economy" you can order...although that might be tasty. BUT working together and doing the best we can do with what's given to us we'll pull through. We always have in the past, and so I have hope for our future.
Tarheel_Dem
(31,245 posts)monmouth
(21,078 posts)watching him watching the results and then going to the Park. Seeing Jessie Jackson cry got me started. It was the most awesome thing I have witnessed and will never forget it. Then they showed people in other countries and I really started to tear up. Fabulous..
barbtries
(28,815 posts)then i started to cry. sniff.
it's gonna happen again
freshwest
(53,661 posts)madokie
(51,076 posts)The last almost four years have seen me more optimistic than I've been in a long time. When I see the size of the crowds or read an email from the Presidents staff telling me how many people gave to his campaign and then I see how few gave so much individually to the RR campaign and the small size of his rallies I'm again enthused.
If my memory serves me right the average contribution for Obama is a tad less than 60 bucks where with robme and lyin ryan it is in the neighborhood of 2500 bucks. President O's numbers of contributions have eclipsed the number of rMoney's contributions by a long long shot. One does not give to someone and then vote for the other party, it just doesn't happen. I believe that President Obama has this one but that doesn't negate my fear of another coup as I will always believe we had in '00
Sekhmets Daughter
(7,515 posts)for your beautifully written and heartfelt post. It has reminded us of just how excited and ecstatic we were that night.
abelenkpe
(9,933 posts)beachgirl2365
(111 posts)Excellent writing......... your words took me back to that historical day and all the emotions that went along with it.............Thanks! I needed that!
JNelson6563
(28,151 posts)I remember it well, I cried. It was great, can't wait to do it again!
Julie
ffr
(22,674 posts)Reaction in 2008 in Lexington Kentucky
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)The media kept showing young people screaming and hollering over Obama's win but it was the older generation of blacks who suffered through racism at its worse that felt it in their bones that America was never going to be the same, that their children had a shot at the simple RESPECT they never had, that they could grow up to BE somebody.
renate
(13,776 posts)I still have that night's coverage on our DVR. What a wonderful night that was, and I can't imagine how even better it would have been to be in a blue blue blue place like New York to share that joy with everybody!
siligut
(12,272 posts)[IMG][/IMG]
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)After the voters reject Romney the Republicans in power will call him a loser who couldn't even defeat a black guy "with a terrible record" and toss him out the back door and tell him never to return. Same goes for Ryan.
calimary
(81,527 posts)WONDERFUL post! There is indeed no "Animal Style Economy" that you can order and gobble down in a few minutes. This takes time. And we are all impatient as hell. I certainly am, myself!
Welcome to DU, mom2threegirls. Thanks for posting this! Glad you're here. We need you and your words.
Now get back to work!
EC
(12,287 posts)and reminds me of my tears that night and pride.
I'll have that same pride or possibly even more as he is re-elected as comfirmation in the faith the country has in what he has done and will do. I don't want his legacy erased.
SheilaT
(23,156 posts)I wish I could have been with you in NYC that night.
Digital Puppy
(496 posts)Thanks so much for sharing!!
Rose Siding
(32,623 posts)Your joy made mine better.