Misty-Eyed

[trevor_macfee]

I grew up in the south. Went to segregated schools until I was in 7th grade (when we moved from Virginia to Florida where the public schools I went to were integrated but where lots of white kids were sent to private schools so they didn't have to go to school with "them"). Within my lifetime (I'm 46) there were separate drinking fountains and other separate accommodations for people of color. Heck, until I was 5 the marriage that produced our next president was illegal in the state of my birth (Loving v Virginia in 1967). I love my parents dearly, but they were products of their time and place who never really saw beyond the attitudes that they grew up with. To their credit, they never casually tossed around the racial epithets that were regular parts many of my friends' families conversations.

No way did I ever think with all that around me growing up that within my lifetime there would be a president who was not lily white (and a man, for that matter).

It's been just 40 years since Martin Luther King was martyred. In the context of history, that is not long.

Tonight, watching President-Elect Obama's speech, I did tear up. Yes, I have been proud of my country before, but I am extremely proud of this nation tonight.

Do I agree with everything the President-elect espouses? No. But I have faith in this country - that we can rise above our differences and work together to continue to grow beyond the mistakes of our past and build on the tremendous successes of our history.

It's late and I know I'm blathering. But I needed to try to write down some of what I was feeling. I'm going to bed now, hopeful, and also prayerful, for Barack Obama and for our country.

[melleon]

Well said, thanks for doing so.

[PlacentiaSoccerMom]

Do I agree with everything the President-elect espouses? No. But I have faith in this country - that we can rise above our differences and work together to continue to grow beyond the mistakes of our past and build on the tremendous successes of our history.

I really like this part of what you wrote.

[SportsFan68]

There were not only misty eyes at tonight's Election Watch party in my county, a couple people were sobbing outright.

They had worked so hard for so long, they were overcome. I'm proud to be a part of it.

[madamemeisha]

I have never been more proud of my country, nor more excited to have been able to vote. I will always remember tonight.

[WheresFanny]

There were not only misty eyes at tonight's Election Watch party in my county, a couple people were sobbing outright.

They had worked so hard for so long, they were overcome. I'm proud to be a part of it.

I didn't realize you were on and posting, I just posted a message to you concerning Our State.

Overcome is exactly the word I was thinking about earlier. I was very surprised at my reaction to seeing "Obama 307" on the television screen, but 'overcome' was pretty much it.

[silverscreenselect]

Tonight, watching President-Elect Obama's speech, I did tear up. Yes, I have been proud of my country before, but I am extremely proud of this nation tonight.

As Americans, we tend to want to believe the best in people. When asked to show we are not bigoted, we so, convincingly.

Obama's victory tonight is not his alone but it rests on the shoulders of a lot of other men and women who gave up so much to put him in a position where this was possible. I hope he realizes the debt he owes them and tries to live up to that legacy. It's no secret I'm not a fan of his and I don't have much faith in what he's going to do.

It's very frustrating because I feel our country is at a crossroads where we could go in one of two directions. A bold, transformational leader could do a lot towards restoring our world prestige amd enacting a legislative program that allows this country to achieve true greatness. On the other hand, the wrong moves could turn the next four years into a repeat of the Carter era, with disastrous international consequences and a hard right swing in the political winds (the next Republican candidate won't be a moderate). So far Obama has shown me nothing besides the ability to give great speeches and schmooze the media. He took a perfect storm favoring the Democratic party, with the biggest economic crisis in decades hitting at the absolute best time for him, and still managed to give the Republicans a chance to win.

Sometimes, people live up to the responsibility they are given rather than down to their previous experience. I hope for our country and our party that Obama manages to do this.

[SportsFan68]

Sometimes, people live up to the responsibility they are given rather than down to their previous experience. I hope for our country and our party that Obama manages to do this.

Thank you, SSS. I'm pleased that you share in the hope so many of us are feeling right now -- if only a little bit.

I think he will -- I think he'll rise to the demands of the time as George Washington and Abraham Lincoln did. I think he'll put together the team he needs to make it happen.

[littlebeast13]

There was an election last night?

I musta missed it....

lb13

[peacock2121]

There was an election last night?

I musta missed it....

lb13

I can always count on our resident studmuffin to bring humor into the situation.

[littlebeast13]

There was an election last night?

I musta missed it....

lb13

I can always count on our resident studmuffin to bring humor into the situation.

I was absolutely shocked to leave work this morning and found out that the sun was rising.....

I had heard it wouldn't....

lb13

[peacock2121]

There was an election last night?

I musta missed it....

lb13

I can always count on our resident studmuffin to bring humor into the situation.

I was absolutely shocked to leave work this morning and found out that the sun was rising.....

I had heard it wouldn't....

lb13

You been listening to the wrong conversations.

[peacock2121]

I can always count on our resident studmuffin to bring humor into the situation.

I was absolutely shocked to leave work this morning and found out that the sun was rising.....

I had heard it wouldn't....

lb13

You been listening to the wrong conversations.

If you had a properly configured foe list you would have to listen to those conversations.

[littlebeast13]

I can always count on our resident studmuffin to bring humor into the situation.

I was absolutely shocked to leave work this morning and found out that the sun was rising.....

I had heard it wouldn't....

lb13

You been listening to the wrong conversations.

I think the only reason the sun rose is because I kept my perfect streak alive of picking losers, from Mondale to McCain.....

If there should ever be an election where I actually get behind the guy who ends up winning...... look out!

lb13

[peacock2121]

I was absolutely shocked to leave work this morning and found out that the sun was rising.....

I had heard it wouldn't....

lb13

You been listening to the wrong conversations.

I think the only reason the sun rose is because I kept my perfect streak alive of picking losers, from Mondale to McCain.....

If there should ever be an election where I actually get behind the guy who ends up winning...... look out!

lb13

Now you get to blame others.

[littlebeast13]

You been listening to the wrong conversations.

I think the only reason the sun rose is because I kept my perfect streak alive of picking losers, from Mondale to McCain.....

If there should ever be an election where I actually get behind the guy who ends up winning...... look out!

lb13

Now you get to blame others.

I don't blame others, especially those who charge money for the privilege.....

I shall return to being blissfully apathetic.....

lb13

[peacock2121]

I think the only reason the sun rose is because I kept my perfect streak alive of picking losers, from Mondale to McCain.....

If there should ever be an election where I actually get behind the guy who ends up winning...... look out!

lb13

Now you get to blame others.

I don't blame others, especially those who charge money for the privilege.....

I shall return to being blissfully apathetic.....

lb13

someone has to be there.

[traininvain]

So far Obama has shown me nothing besides the ability to give great speeches and schmooze the media. He took a perfect storm favoring the Democratic party, with the biggest economic crisis in decades hitting at the absolute best time for him, and still managed to give the Republicans a chance to win.

You could easily insert Regan, Republican, and Democrats into the highlighted areas, and that kind of scares me.