Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board
Voicelessness and Emotional Survival => Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board => Topic started by: Hopalong on November 05, 2008, 07:47:22 AM
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Sorry I haven't posted...so much happening. I owe several of you personal thanks for your great wisdom and support on another thread. Can't stop for it now, alas, but just wanted to express my real joy on the selection of Barack Obama as our next president.
There wil be time for new disappointments and frustrations with politics and governance in the future, as is always so, but for now, I am just happy. And deeply moved.
We have overcome...so much.
(Good practice.)
love to all,
Hops
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You bet. Still overcoming the celebratory champagne! :-)
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Great Joy in Mudville!!!
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Hops,
Same feeling...I'm deeply moved and very happy with Obama as Our President.
My daughter waited on line for 3 hours and as a first time voter had no clue how long it would take. She had flip flops on and would not leave the line even though people told her to go and get her boots and they would hold her spot. She stood her ground and froze her Pigs off.
My son 13 I let stay up to 1:30 in the morning. Usually I never would allow this but....he is part of History...was very excited. He also did a vote in school...it was 79% Obama. High School was even higher...
My d was pretty excited and didn't mind the wait...she was....impressed with the people on line. There was a spark in people. An electric excitement.
The friendlessness of people. One girl was with her Ipod listening to music and two stepping away...another reading a book...and people just very helpfull, shaking her hand on first time voter and when she went back to work they had (Me) lol...bring them McDonald's..lots of chatter and excitement there...
Here's to changes! And healing..And yes hops...We have overcome ...so much!
Love
Deb
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I read a couple of internet forums and on one of them there was a
discussion last night about the election. One of the last posts was the
following from someone in the Netherlands. It is just amazing to me and
thought it would interesting for those of you here. (Boy do I miss the heyday of this place. I came here first last night looking for people to communicate with but noone was here. I was so disappointed. I wanted to be with my friends last night but noone was home.)
"Not just America is celebrating: the entire world has gone bonkers. It
was night here when the voting started, but the streets of the
Netherlands were anything but silent. And when Obama finally won... oh
man, my throat is still sore from cheering and I feel lightheaded by
staying up all night. But I don't care; nobody does. Online friends from
Paris have called me to ask if things were as wild over here as there,
and I could hear (illegal ) fireworks in the background. London is
partying, Germany is going nuts. It's over! The Bush nightmare is over!
I used to admire america, but the last eight years, they were seen as
nothing but bunch of pathetic bullies. It was like seeting Santa take
off his costume and smoke a sigarette, telling kids to scram. Now that
Obama has been elected, maybe the old days can come back and the USA can
be the lands of dreams again. Santa lives!"
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Great Joy in Mudville!!!
My joy doesn't come from politics; either the winning or the losing side.
If he governs like Clinton and gravitates toward the center we'll muddle through.
If he veers sharply left we'll have a bit of a disaster like the 70's and the pendulum will swing back and again we'll be OK.
I didn't cheer when Reagan was elected nor swoon when Clinton was.
Anyone who cheers til they're hoarse because some hack politician of any party or persuasion got elected is looking for a messiah not a president. And I have yet to see the search for a messiah among men have a happy ending.
mud in joyous mudville :D
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YES Mud! People looking for messiahs in men are scary. Ami
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I'm pretty cynical about the political process, myself... the more things "change", the more they stay the same. But, that out of the way....
anything that blows the embers of hope into a flame - even if it flickers - is probably a very good thing.
These have been bleak times socially, culturally & economically. We need a national attitude adjustment...
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I knew Obama would win. People are so NOT satisfied with the Bush Admin that they were going to push through change. I think McCain is too old and I do not think Sarah Palin was ready.....but i voted for McCain because I have heard some bad stuff about Obama. But I am not upset that he won. I think if it unites the US, the economy bounces back, the war is ended etc. then it will all be cool.........but I do not want us to become a Socialist country.......I DO think you should try to save babies from botched abortions..........I do NOT think you should allow partial birth abortions.................and I don't want to support a bunch of illegals and lazy people.....
So we will see.......I think it will be fine......hopefully...
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I voted for Barack Obama - and am deeply happy that he is now the president-elect - because he seems to show tolerance and listen. How many of us on this board can surely appreciate this. He seems to listen to all points of view, even ones that he might not agree on. We'll see, but it is up to US to make sure we are HEARD...he needs our support, whether we voted for him or not. Personally, I just got fed-up with reactionary politics and the world has suffered so much because of this. All of us need to practice tolerance for differing beliefs. N's seem to have a way of thinking that their point of view is the only right point of view - I am hoping and chanting/praying that Obama turns out to be as tolerant as he seems. And, because of his global outlook, all of us may now have a chance of being heard - maturely.
Dawning.
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To see the emotion of joy expressed with such extreme fervor around the world is something beyond comprehension. To see the people moved almost to tears: Colin Powell, Condi Rice, a little school boy in Atlanta, and on and on.
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Amen mud!!! You always have a wonderfully eloquent manner of nailing a situation.
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I am glad that there is a black President. It signifies change but not as much change as one would think. Probably more like a grand but fairly empty gesture. I hope Obama can hang onto some of his vision throught the rigourous process of initiating him into the system he will be working in. He is just one person in a monolithic system. Whether he can single handedly change that system is not likely. There are so many forces combining to destroy the fabric of a sane and ethical society.
I thought " Boy, I hope people are still vigilent for the abuses that are happening as we speak. "
Sea storm
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I am glad that the color barrier has been broken, but I worry about Obama's lack of experience. He has not even served a full term as a Senator. To me, this is like a freshman who hasn't finished his freshman year and it's not that he wants to skip to his junior or senior year, but he wants to be made dean. I wish Obama would have finished at least one term in the Senate before he ran for President because then I'd feel that he has more experience. I just hope it works out well. I really hesitated to post this because I'm sure I'll get some flak.
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You know what is kind of scary about this election. People are afraid to speak up as they have not been in past elections. Do you agree ,Ann? Ami
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Hi Ami,
To answer you, Yes!! Like, if you don't like Obama, you're a racist. I find the hypocrisy particularly glaring visa vise Condi Rice, the first Black woman to be Secy of State, but because she is Repub, the media did not celebrate the combination of her ethnicity & gender. Instead, some in the media made incredibly racists & sexists remarks & cartoons about her & the established media did not criticise the racism or sexism. So, I see that as a double standard.
IMO, the media adored Obama & the dye was cast. Had Hillary been elected, another barrier could have been broken: the gender barrier, but IMO, the media chose Obama over Hillary, so the dye was cast.
For me personally, I don't care about a candidate's gender or ethnicity. What matters to me is the candidate's experience & policies.
Look, sometimes your candidate wins & sometimes your candidate loses: that's how our system works. I just hope for the best.
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What about Clarence Thomas, Ann? That says it all! Ami
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the media chose Obama over Hillary,
The media could not create the celebration in the streets in the US and across the world. The media could not bring tears to the eyes of so many - republicans included. No media can create that reaction. It was felt world wide.
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I don't agree that people are more afraid to speak their minds - on the contrary, I've noticed a LOT more people voicing concerns, opinions, etc about this election than ever before. Even to the point of carrying around sandwich boards with their views on it, on election day.
In fact, my experience was the complete opposite. People were SO passionate about who they supported and why... and so biased (most of the time unfairly & irrationally) against the opposing side... that the din of this cacaphony sent me retreating behind the usual moat & drawbridge boundaries.
I personally was bombarded with people's opinions and comments - from both sides. I signed up for the political do not call list (which turned out to be pointless) to stop the constant phone ringing all day - and even late into the evening. A dozen people came to my door wanting to know if I needed information about their candidate (no, I do my own research and educate myself - thanks) or whom I was going to vote for (and I choose not to talk about that) until I finally got rude and ran back inside saying loudly "I just want to be left in peace"!!
I've never been so glad an election is over as with this one. Being a responsible citizen doesn't require this kind of fervor or full-time attention.
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I had much the same experience as PR. I grew up in a very Republican household so I always hear that side. What I liked about this election--notable on a board dedicated to Voicelessness--is that a lot of people who haven't gotten much attention in past elections got some this time. Children are not born socially and economically equal in this country, because that is impossible in any society, but all people have the right to be heard. I was concerned about Obama's minimal experience but cheered by the fact that he ran an exceptional campaign. I like what he had to say, and how he said it. I am an independent contractor. I pay about 42% of my income in taxes now; my brother, who certainly supported McCain, pays 50%. Do I want that to go up? No. Will he be a great President? Time will tell. Hey, you can't go wrong predicting he won't be perfect.
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I grew up in Republican politics. I even worked in republican presidential politics in the 80s and know many of the staffers. For me it was like working in a sausage factory. I found it all smoke and mirrors and lies. I haven't been interested in politics since then until now. Now I am cheered.
One of the most remarkable things about Obama's campaign is that HE had a no drama, no leaks policy and HE ran a tight ship. I admire that.
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No media can create that reaction.
GS,
I love you & respect your point of view, but think about that statement. IMO, the media can definitely create and/or foster that reaction.
I live in a city where people call you a nazi if you disagree w/ dems & libs.
For me, I don't vote the party, I vote the person, whatever their party is. Guess that makes me an Independent.
w/ love & respect.
ann
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Ann - I am thankful for your presense here and have received so much of value from you but here we must respectfully disagree. I'm glad you shared your point of view. - your friend - GS
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No media can create that reaction.
GS,
I love you & respect your point of view, but think about that statement. IMO, the media can definitely create and/or foster that reaction.
I live in a city where people call you a nazi if you disagree w/ dems & libs.
For me, I don't vote the party, I vote the person, whatever their party is. Guess that makes me an Independent.
w/ love & respect.
ann
I have to support your viewpoint, Ann. Ami
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There's plenty of diversity here and that's okay with me. Better than okay.
I am sorry for the hurt and disappointment those who wished it had gone another way are feeling.
I hope that's soon replaced by some optimism or a new sense of commonality. We have so much more in common, as Americans, that we do that divides us.
All that matters now is to pull together and focus most on what we have in common.
The world reaction moved me so much...I've gotten excited emails from Europe. People ARE hopeful again, after a long terrible time.
So much is broken no one leader can fix it all. But every one of us can help. No matter which way one tilts, we all have something important and valuable to give.
I can't wait to get started. (On a lark, sent in an inquiry about working for the administration! Maybe they could use a good editor.) :lol:
love,
Hops
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I lived in two countries as a child and was educated at the university level in a third. I was nearly killed in an IRA bombing in London during the 1980s. Two of my friends and one acquaintance died on 9/11, in the Twin Towers, in a city I'd called home for a decade. This is prelude to saying: not only do we have so much more in common as Americans than we have that divides us; we have so much more as human beings. If we could only see it.
Good luck on that administrative post, Hops!
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GS,
Thank for for saying we can agree to disagree, but we can still like & respect each other. I think growing up in an N household, I was forced to accept opinions with which I disagreed, so I reluctantly, if ever, expressed my feelings.
I'm now learning how to express my opinions to people I like when my opinions disagree with the other person's opinions. It's scary, but I'm glad I did it. Every interaction can offer an opportunity to grow.
Ami, thank you for your support.
I hope Obama turns out to be a great President.
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gjazz,
Agree: united we stand, divided we fall.
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Yes.
United, as a world, we stand. Divided we have wars and famines and other wasted resources. United the potential is boundless. Divided we just keep throwing it all away.
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I don't feel quite as badly as I did before about Obama. I hope he has character and integrity. I hope he has all the traits we so need as a country.
I think we all want that. Ami
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((((((((((((Leah)))))))))))))))
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As a nation, we have elected Barack Obama, so all of us have to hope for the best. I think all Republicans will be wary of him, as would Democrats be wary of a Republican-elect president. I have many reservations, but I truly hope that there will be good that comes out of this election. I believe that having a black president has made many people feel that a huge boundary has been crushed. I wish we had made this much deal about Condoleeza Rice, a woman, a black, a Republican... and a woman who is tough and intelligent. I felt she was swept under the rug (and knowing how she is, I don't doubt she was fine with that).
As mud said, I fear that people have built President elect Obama into something greater than he can possibly be. I also hope that he will understand that conversing with terrorists will not protect our country.
Love to all of you and hopes that our country will prosper and grow in the upcoming years.
Love, Beth
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To the last post...I say, speak up. i just got off the phone with my N bitch mom - and have got - what feels like - a load of other N's in my biofamily, hitting me with THEIR points of view...And, you, know what, i have my point of view and that counts too. And, furthermore, i respect their points of view but i expect mine to be respected too. And, if they - or anyone - CAN do that, then true communication can blossom. If not, they can't arrest me. Yay, U.S.A.!
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I wish the U.S. of A. well.
I do wish there was/were a better way to say "a Black President". Is there?
In 4 or 8 years will it be "Now that we have a White President", or a "Cocoa President:, or a "Red (Native, also known correctly a 'Mongoloid') President?
Talk about equality. There never will be that!
There are, to my understanding,
Caucasian
Negroid
and
Mongoloid
only 3 races/peoples
on this earth when it comes to colour. I had a Native Canadian as a lover and Father of my Daughter, but if I said Mongoloid?....what would you think---Chinese? Japanese? Idiot? Canadian Indian (s/b Native Canadian) American Indian( s/b Native American)
Obama is being placed in a category.
I mean NO harm, but is that the only way to refer to the President-elect of the United States of America?
Just my point of view when I hear that the U.S. of A. has "a black president"-elect.
Respectfully
Izzy
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Izzy,
I really feel that there is no such thing as race. To me, colors are a way of describing a person... Just like hair color or eye color. I really don't agree with using termslike "African-American" or "Mexican-American" as I believe we should all be one - Americans. I think that people who are very cautious about describing people still harbor some sort of prejudice.
It is important to some people in America that we have elected a black president. I think it has helped some people feel that we are more equal. Perhaps we can really put some of the "race relations" to rest now and be more of a united country.
So... when do we get a Hispanic president, my Mexican-born father-in-law wants to know - lol.
Love, Beth
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The Marines call their darker counterparts "Dark Green Marines." :)
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Actually, that is a way NOT to set them apart. They are all green. Some of them are different shades of green. But they are a unit and a whole group. I have never seen any discrimination among the marines.