Tuesday, November 4, 2008

It has come to pass

Barack Obama has been elected as the next President of the United States of America.



On August 28, 1963, Dr Martin Luther King stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and delivered his I have a dream speech for racial unity and civil rights:

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal'."

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."

Forty five years later (and after centuries of struggle for equality), the dream has come true. America has lived up to it's founding ideals of freedom, equality, and liberty. We are still the land of opportunity, the American dream is alive and well. Hope is real for the American people. We are a United States of America.

10 comments:

  1. Congratulations!

    I don't mind admitting that I actually cried listening to his speech. This is huge.

    Tomorrow is a brand new world.

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  2. WOOHOO!

    (will actually READ your post later)

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  3. To a brave new world in the US of A, heartfelt congratulations.

    I can only hope that Obama will be allowed his time in office to see your country through to a better time and place. I do fear for his safety in the long run, as we have discussed the potential for it to be a short-lived term.

    I do, however, have all my digits crossed! And pray to the gods that be, to let Obama do good things for the citizens of your country.

    I was only able to catch a small part of McCain's speech after he lost, and did not hear Obama speak at all, as I was at work. But I am sure it will be replayed on TV tomorrow so will catch it then.

    I am happy, Eros, for you and for my American friends, both in Texas and California. May this be the beginning of a more settled and properous period in your history!

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  4. Congrats! Great news.

    To be the party pooper (MJ insert joke or and pun here) I'll ask. Is there no chance of this ending in court in say, Florida? Or something.

    It just seems so unreal

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  5. Donn, It is a great moment, and I was moved by his speech and realizing that this is history in the making. Even better, democracy still works!

    MJ, It is a great night (and a new day) for America!

    Ponygirl, It is a fantastic, amazing story of the American dream. A lot of people who lived thru the race riots and civil rights movements in the 50s and 60s never believed they would live to see this day; but it has come. And he's not just a black candidate; he's also white; but more than that, he is just an American candidate.

    I do hope nothing bad happens to him, and I'm choosing hope and optimism for a better future. And I hope the Secret Service protects him from any who might wish to do him harm.

    CP, there is no going to court! Florida and Virginia and Ohio turned blue! That means they voted for Democratic candidate, Barack Obama. They used to be Republican red states. He wins by a wide margin!

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  6. I love how you quoted Dr. King. Kudos to the US!

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  7. Oh stop , or I will burst with cynicism
    ***goes and hides in shed till its all over***

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  8. See .... I told I was a dreadfull cynic for all things political....its a terrible affliction :-(

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  9. Snooze, I thought it fitting; esp. since it was President Lincoln, from Illinois, who ended the Civil War and slavery. And a senator from Illinois has become the first mixed race President for the US, making Dr King's dream a reality.

    Beast, it's a great time for democracy in America, esp. since the young voters (and minorities) finally exercised their votes and participated in large, unprecedented numbers.

    But these are tumultuous times. The economy is in shambles, the terrorists are still attacking, and the world is in chaos. The fight for equality in America still rages on, and the issue of gay rights is the war we still wage in America.

    CP, the Republicans screwed themselves for not listening to the American people. And I think it's a generational divide. The younger generations (post baby boomers), have risen and taken a greater role in their gov't. Gov't has changed, because the people have changed. And I'm so glad and proud to be a part of it.

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