How excited was I wake up this morning to a United States where Barack Obama is president elect? How excited were you?
My housemates and I cracked open a bottle of champagne as soon as we heard about the impending victory. We laughed, we toasted, we celebrated. Like so many other voters and young people, we feel like we have a stake in his success. And he succeeded. We succeeded.
Four years ago, I was feeling overall ambivalent to the entire election. I don’t even remember if I voted, which probably means I didn’t. But this year, I triple-checked my registration with the State of New Jersey, filed everything months ahead of time, made absolutely sure that there would be no snags or surprises when I cast my vote. I dropped my absentee ballot in the mail a few weeks ago and I felt like nothing short of a rock star.
So last night was exciting. Both my home state of New Jersey and my foster state of Pennsylvania went blue. The numbers ticked up and up and finally, finally, but so early…Obama became our next president. McCain gave a gracious speech to a typically indignant crowd – and never once resorted to Sad Grandpa! – and then stepped out of the way.
I’ll admit, I cried during Obama’s speech. Maybe kind of a lot. My housemates made fun of me for it, sure, but I think as our lives go this is a Big Deal. This is something huge that I was apart of and I’m even looking forward to what happens next.
I know, I know: he’s a politician and maybe not as all-around awesome as I want to believe he is. Obama was right to thank his campaign team – as political campaigns go, his was genius. It’s no wonder he won AMA’s marketer of the year award (or whatever they call it). I know he’s “just” a politician and I shouldn’t be swept up in the bluster and posturing, but he feels significantly less soulless to me than pretty much everyone else. That counts for something, right?
Still there’s an element of fear for me. Not that he won’t be “up to the task” but that the charisma and power that so inspires me will motivate some kind of violence against him. I want to believe that I live in a country enlightened enough not to resort to such disgusting tactics, but we know those people are out there. Some of them have already been stopped. How many more will try? Is it only a matter of time?
I suppose there’s always that chance. You either choose to live in fear or…you get on with it. So let’s get on with it – full speed ahead to January 2009!
