Much has been said about the OBama Victory. As impressive as it was, especially for those jubilant voters under the age of 39 ( young professionals, students, minorities, and less hard core ideologues than one would imagine ), who usually are apathetic and not too interested or impressed with what has become a very divided and partisan society. It's as if our country was comprised of two tribes jockeying for position... one blue, one red.
When stepping back and trying to be as pragmatic as one can be with the cold realization that my team did not triumph, I try to imagine what if... but nothing comes up... trying to sound brave doesn't get it when one has a heavy heart... and no excuses for rightful failure. Da gum those words... those sentiments... that indomitable spirit... that righteous wind... that soaring rhetoric... it does mesmerize. The fellow was standing there almost messianic all by himself with thousands and thousands of delirious disciples enraptured, as if they were experiencing the aura of a beatific vision. And I was spellbound as well... even if only for a moment...
The old guard civil rights activists with tears streaming down their faces... a popular and universally respected icon wearing purple (reminiscent of the title of her debut film).. students literally jumping for joy both in Grant Park and Lafayette Park across from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue... It almost causes one to doubt the old ways of tribal warfare.
What will happen after his ascension to the presidency will soon be determined. But this historic night would be lost if we did not pause and take in the importance of what actually happened. This country actually elected a man of color ... to be president. Just think about it.
Like my 5 year old granddaughter says when something she thinks is cool ..." it's awesome, Papa."
We know this is a good Country. We know this is a Country where everyone around the world wants to come for its freedoms and opportunities. The Country has sacrificed its young in so many ways in the name of freedom... freedom of choice, freedom of speech, freedom of religion... But who would have thought this would actually happen less than 60 years from the tumultuous times prior to the passing of the Civil Rights Act?
This is truly a good Country in spite of all its blemishes. But there's more. In my discernment over the loss of my team, I reconciled myself to the fact that my vote was even more significant. It was a vote that ended all those wars we have been fighting in my lifetime. The war of hate, the war of prejudice, the wars of inequality, the Civil War or, as some of my long ago college classmates would say...The War of Northern Aggression..., the Vietnam War ...Johnson's war...the politicians' war..., the war between the classes--all obliterated with one single vote...
My vote was to honor my fallen comrades from the Vietnam era. My vote was a vote for them. This new generation doesn't know... doesn't remember... what we went through and what we sacrificed. They didn't bathe in the warmth of a genuinely good man who brought many of us together in the person of Ronald Reagan. That was MY team.
And the ones that followed really blew it. And subsequently, out of the ashes of their greed and corruption sprang this energetic Phoenix. And in his triumphant ascendency, he has shattered every myth and every war that has personally plagued us for such a long time.
He is now the president-elect..."our" president. And I wish him well and will support him any way possible; I will disagree with him when I think he is on the wrong track. But instead of judging harshly or criticizing bitterly I will nudge compassionately and hope to God my team can get it together for the next go-around.
The Wars are finally over and that is a good thing. Now, there are no more excuses for bad behavior...
When stepping back and trying to be as pragmatic as one can be with the cold realization that my team did not triumph, I try to imagine what if... but nothing comes up... trying to sound brave doesn't get it when one has a heavy heart... and no excuses for rightful failure. Da gum those words... those sentiments... that indomitable spirit... that righteous wind... that soaring rhetoric... it does mesmerize. The fellow was standing there almost messianic all by himself with thousands and thousands of delirious disciples enraptured, as if they were experiencing the aura of a beatific vision. And I was spellbound as well... even if only for a moment...
The old guard civil rights activists with tears streaming down their faces... a popular and universally respected icon wearing purple (reminiscent of the title of her debut film).. students literally jumping for joy both in Grant Park and Lafayette Park across from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue... It almost causes one to doubt the old ways of tribal warfare.
What will happen after his ascension to the presidency will soon be determined. But this historic night would be lost if we did not pause and take in the importance of what actually happened. This country actually elected a man of color ... to be president. Just think about it.
Like my 5 year old granddaughter says when something she thinks is cool ..." it's awesome, Papa."
We know this is a good Country. We know this is a Country where everyone around the world wants to come for its freedoms and opportunities. The Country has sacrificed its young in so many ways in the name of freedom... freedom of choice, freedom of speech, freedom of religion... But who would have thought this would actually happen less than 60 years from the tumultuous times prior to the passing of the Civil Rights Act?
This is truly a good Country in spite of all its blemishes. But there's more. In my discernment over the loss of my team, I reconciled myself to the fact that my vote was even more significant. It was a vote that ended all those wars we have been fighting in my lifetime. The war of hate, the war of prejudice, the wars of inequality, the Civil War or, as some of my long ago college classmates would say...The War of Northern Aggression..., the Vietnam War ...Johnson's war...the politicians' war..., the war between the classes--all obliterated with one single vote...
My vote was to honor my fallen comrades from the Vietnam era. My vote was a vote for them. This new generation doesn't know... doesn't remember... what we went through and what we sacrificed. They didn't bathe in the warmth of a genuinely good man who brought many of us together in the person of Ronald Reagan. That was MY team.
And the ones that followed really blew it. And subsequently, out of the ashes of their greed and corruption sprang this energetic Phoenix. And in his triumphant ascendency, he has shattered every myth and every war that has personally plagued us for such a long time.
He is now the president-elect..."our" president. And I wish him well and will support him any way possible; I will disagree with him when I think he is on the wrong track. But instead of judging harshly or criticizing bitterly I will nudge compassionately and hope to God my team can get it together for the next go-around.
The Wars are finally over and that is a good thing. Now, there are no more excuses for bad behavior...
Ralph E. Jordan
Morning of November 5th 2008
3 comments:
this contest should never be about race and already we are hearing "yes we can"
in his acceptance speech he said he knows this wasn't done just to win and you know, I really think it was done just for that reason
he talked about a 106 year old voting for him
well, my grandmother-in-law is 95 and she voted for McCain!
I wish I could say I see the war ending. This war between two parties, red or blue, neither of which seems capable of accepting their fair blame for the shame of past mistakes--this stumble/tumble of our economy, but no, they all stand in denial pointing fingers at each other while discussing, snidely, the color of Sarah Palin's shoes.
We have a new president. Whether he was our personal choice or not, he's going to be our president for the next four years. So I will hold my breath and pray he takes a moderate, well advised path during these troubled times. His rhetoric is, indeed, pleasingly superb. I didn't vote for him, but at least I voted.
As far as him being the phoenix rising from the ashes, I have my doubts. This is a good country, but we're a spoiled people and we need, much like our politicians, to learn to take responsibility for our own financial mistakes. We need to stop expecting the government to provide us with bandaides before we find us bound and shackled by the very system we think will be our salvation.
Meanwhile hope, hard work, patience and a little faith seems a wise path.
He's our president, may the force be with him.
yes, he is our president, hopefully not a sith lord wanting to be the emperor-
may the force be with all of us to endure what lies ahead
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