We stayed up late watching the coverage on CNN. I was reluctant to count the chickens until I heard a concession speech. While I don’t agree with most of McCain’s ideals, I have always really liked him and thought he was extremely gracious when he did, at long last, make that speech.
I was still undecided as I stood in the booth with ballot in front of me. The last two elections, I voted for Nader. The last two elections, I felt frustrated with the two big choices. I’ve identified as a moderate in most ways, even if I’ve always leaned a bit left. I casted my vote as a voice of a rebel, hoping to make the statement that we the people really ought to have more than two choices.
What held me back from outright choosing Obama as my POTUS were two things: the war in Iraq and the recent bailout. I never agreed with the war, but I strongly feel that pulling our troops out before we complete what we set out to accomplish would be a big mistake. I sincerely hope that whatever plan is made, it is the right one.
Then that ridiculous bailout - $700 billion dollars (a number I can hardly fathom) to Big Business when Average Joes and Janes like my family and the families of so many I love often lose sleep trying to figure out how to get gas money, let alone make the rent or mortgage… that bailout was given to Big Business by the Democrats, dammit, and I am still very bitter about it. My oldest brother tells me on the phone last night that it was the Republicans that voted deregulations that led to Big Business needing the bailout. It just reaffirms my general dislike of career politicians, left and right.
Living in small, extremely right-wing town of Plant City, Florida for 5 years learned me when to keep my mouth shut. No way in hell would I be erecting a “Vote for Nader” sign in my yard on a block full of “Vote for W” signs. It eventually infected my character and I have been very reluctant ever since to discuss politics. Husband’s grand-dad, of whom I am very fond, has spent the last 8+ months sending me email propaganda on why I shouldn’t vote for Barack Obama: misinformation that I dismissed and never confronted him on. I daresay that if we were chatting over coffee, things would be different. I’m particularly uncomfortable discussing politics in the venue of internet email.
“This victory alone is not the change we seek. It is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were.
It can’t happen without you, without a new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice.
So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism, of responsibility, where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves but each other.
Let us remember that, if this financial crisis taught us anything, it’s that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers.
In this country, we rise or fall as one nation, as one people. Let’s resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long.”
In the spirit of an acceptance speech that moved me, I am “coming out” to say that I am proud to have voted for Barack Obama as my president. I am hopeful that being a part of an historical event in which I participated may effect change in a good and positive way for my family, for my neighbors, for my community, for my nation and for the world.
