Lois & Clark Forums Forums General Discussion Off Topic Civil Rights movement comes of age

Right/left politics completely aside here... this is a historic moment for the US and - because of its status on the international stage - the world. Congratulations on electing the first African-American president!

May the first female president be next


Wendy

Thanks, Wendy! It is an historic day. Yay for the minorities! Just wish a girl could have made it, but then again, blacks got the right to vote long before women did, so that's fair, I suppose.

Let's all go out for drinks - can Obama pick up the tab?

Needless to say, I am thrilled and giddy. And I'll admit I cried.

I stood in line with a man this morning that was born into segregation. He was telling me about how he couldn't play white teams in football when he was younger.

I think at that moment I realized how historical and lucky I was to be standing with him to vote. How much we have changed!!

And because I can't resist.



"We know the battle ahead will be long, but always remember that no matter what obstacles stand in our way, nothing can stand in the way of the power of millions of voices calling for change.

We have been told we cannot do this by a chorus of cynics...they will only grow louder and more dissonant. We've been asked to pause for a reality check. We've been warned against offering the people of this nation false hope.

But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope.

Now the hopes of the little girl who goes to a crumbling school in Dillon are the same as the dreams of the boy who learns on the streets of LA; we will remember that there is something happening in America; that we are not as divided as our politics suggests; that we are one people; we are one nation; and together, we will begin the next great chapter in the American story with three words that will ring from coast to coast; from sea to shining sea --

Yes. We. Can." - Barack Obama, 44th President Elect of the United States of America

Wow! During the civil rights movement both whites and blacks were beaten and killed to prevent blacks from voting. Then LBJ signed the Voting Rights Bill, the right thing to do, saying that it would probably cost the Democratic Party southern support for a generation.

Either that time has passed or no one told North Carolina or Virginia.

Lee Greenwood said it best, "I'm proud to be an American."

My thoughts exactly! Regardless of my opinions on politics or rather politicians I think this is a great step forward for America. Congratulations to Obama in becoming the first black president of America. Like Wendy I hope that a woman will be next.

Since no one has pointed out the obvious, I guess I will...

First of all, Obama is as white as he is black. His black father ditched his family and he was raised by the white half.

More black people came out and voted than ever before... they couldn't wait to vote for BO because he was "black." I've heard the interviews. I have black friends who admitted that they "had" to vote for Obama. I guess I'm not surprised by that.. it's just a lousy reason to vote FOR or AGAINST someone. I'm having trouble seeing that as progress.

I am NOT thrilled that so many people voted for BO for extremely superficial reasons.,,, he's tall, looks good, speaks well (just don't take him away from the TelePrompTer) is black (well, half black), and VERY important to some, has "D" by his name.

I know there are some people who actually think socialism (for example) and BIG government is going to "fix" their lives and they KNOW what they voted for.

But sadly, too MANY didn't have a CLUE. They have no idea how our economy works and what BO's ideas might actually do.

And shame on our media for keeping people ignorant of so many issues. Shame on people who just wanted to get back into power and didn't mind lying to do so.

I'm just glad BO is not going to be a dictator - even if he thinks he's all powerful. We have checks and balances here... thank goodness.

I think that because his appearance obviously reflects more of his black heritage than his white heritage, he probably always has had to and always will face the challenges that other "completely black" people have to deal with. And I'm sure that, to those who might unfortunately judge others based on their skin colour, they wouldn't take Obama's "white half" into account and feel that he's a better person than someone who's "completely black" just because he's got Caucasian blood in him.

Well, he's not exactly the first person to be accused of using their appearance to attract votes, is he? Sarah Palin, anyone? Okay, so she lost. But there's also JFK, Ronald Reagan, the list goes on.

This I understand and agree with, but I'm sure that the people who voted blindly just because of Obama's skin colour didn't win him the election. I have a little more faith in people than that. Sure, the world's not at the point yet where everyone's an informed, well-researched voter (or even at the point where everyone votes, if we ever get there) but I do think we're making progress. Electing a black man into the White House, regardless of "how black" he is, would never have happened even as recently as 30, 40 years ago, IMO, so I think this is huge progress.

America can be justifiably proud of herself today.



As I've said elsewhere, I have a healthy distrust of and disrespect for most politicians, so I greatly surprised myself by bursting into tears when the election coverage passed the 270 mark!

Like Wendy says, leaving all the rest of it aside, whether he'll live up to expectations, be the best President ever or the worst, I just think it's such a wonderful, amazing thing that an African-American is your President today. Something that I never thought I'd see in my lifetime.

I think quibbling over how 'black' he is is faintly ridiculous, Captivated2, and I'm sorry that you can't put aside your partisanship and bias just for one moment to acknowledge the huge achievement this has been for your country and for Obama. I'm sure there were many Republican who voted for Palin because she's a 'hockey-mom', is 'folksy' and shoots moose - and many other, just as spurious reasons.

Talking of which - I have to admit that McCain's concession speech was deeply moving and very gracious. It didn't quite make up for what was, imo, an outrageous and nasty campaign, but it did go some way. I heard a lot of people talking about the 'real McCain' coming back and for the first time I did see the man of honour and integrity that people kept saying he used to be.

LabRat

Have to agree with you on that one, Labby. I never thought I would see the day either.

Jamse

I was moved by McCain's speech as well, at least what I heard of it. It was a very gracious concession.

Obama's speech also moved me, especially when he spoke of the 106-yr-old black woman who, when she came of age, couldn't vote both because of her gender and the color of her skin. So much change since then!

The thing is, that doesn't always make much of a difference. It used to be that if you had a drop of black blood in you, you were considered black, no matter how white your skin was. We've come a long way since that time.

Greetings from the very deep South, my fellow Folcs! From a state every bit as red as Superman’s cape...

I have two cents or more to toss in. All of it merely my opinion, grain of salt included, disclaimer and etc.

Born and raised in Georgia, I know it doesn’t matter that President-Elect Obama is half-white. It’s not the family tree people see when they look at him. It’s the skin color.

And the reality of his skin color is that it signals, in some, assumptions and stereotypes and even fear. The most difficult of these to combat are the unconscious assumptions; that sort of ‘soft bigotry’ which probably doesn’t recognize itself as such, because it’s so unconscious. It’s under the skin, in the bone, steeped in the culture. But it’s very much there.

For this reason, I was afraid to hope-- despite what the polls said and what the projections were. But, also for this reason, I kept my kids out of school and took them with me to the voting booth yesterday. I wanted them to see history. To be able to tell their kids and grandkids they ‘helped’ pull the lever. (There was no lever. It was a button, but still...)

And what I really hope and believe is because our new President has brown skin, future generations will grow up with his portrait on classroom walls, his image in textbooks, and eventually on the dollar bill (heh), and that unconscious bigotry-- so much a part of the tapestry of the old South, and probably other places too-- will erode away.

Now all that said, it’s not his color that won this election, lest that be suggested. It was the Economy . And Obama’s smart, steady, and even-keeled campaign.

I absolutely do not envy him the task ahead. But I’m very proud of my country today!

(And am a member of the Thrilled and Giddy constituency.)

CC

Alright, I've been pretty quiet in these threads for the most part because I hate all the arguing and sensitivity that comes with politics, but if you're going to play the race card like that then I can't keep quiet any longer.

Please do not diminish what a huge accomplishment this is for the minority and mixed race community by pointing out that he's half white. It really doesn't matter. America doesn't see that, just as they don't see the mixed heritage of people like Halle Berry, Alicia Keys, Terrence Howard, Tina Turner, or even Tiger Woods. It's really not the point.

Quote

More black people came out and voted than ever before... they couldn't wait to vote for BO because he was "black." I've heard the interviews. I have black friends who admitted that they "had" to vote for Obama. I guess I'm not surprised by that.. it's just a lousy reason to vote FOR or AGAINST someone. I'm having trouble seeing that as progress.

I agree that race or gender isn't a reason to vote for someone. However, just because you have black friends that voted for Obama because of his heritage does NOT mean that the entire black community voted for him for that reason and frankly, you suggesting as such is hugely insulting. Had you considered that there is probably a percentage of white people that voted for him just because he's black as well?

More people of all races came out to vote yesterday because it was arguably the most important election of our time. I won't say that race had nothing to do with because I'm sure that's not true for a lot of people. But you cannot make generalizations like that, not and expect not to be called on it.

So while I still remember it:

It was!!!

Yes!!!

Me too!

Me either.

You should be!!!

It's amazing to think of.

And thanks, Jojo, for the quote from Barack Obama's extremely moving and beautiful victory speech. That is one that will go down in history. And you know what? There are so many Republicans who believe in the same things that Obama expressed today. I don't see why John McCain couldn't have said the same thing.

It was a lovely, moving, beautiful tribute to America.



Ann

This is indeed an historic day for the US. And although he is not the candidate for whom I voted, I think he is sincere in wanting America to be better. I can support an honest man, which I believe Barack Obama to be.

When I was in high school in Louisiana, the state desegregated the public schools in the parish. (That will give you an idea of how old I am!) I had been raised mostly in Ohio, and my father's work in the Air force brought us in contact with other ethnic groups all the time, so it was no big deal to me to let the black kids come to class with us.

During a school assembly where the teachers and administrators were doing their best to make sure we didn't have daily riots, I said to myself (but aloud), "I don't see what the big deal is. What's wrong with letting everybody go to the same school?"

An upperclassman - whose build suggested that he carried farm tractors around the homestead for fun - heard me and said to me, "You sound like a n--lover. You wanna get whupped?" or words to that effect. Since me fighting this guy would have been tantamount to suicide, I kept silent. But it brought home to me the point that people learn to hate others without learning anything about those 'others.'

The first time I rode down the main road in that small city, we stopped at a traffic light and I gawked at all the different things around me and marveled at how different Louisiana was from Ohio. And I saw a dry cleaner's with the sign above it saying "Whites only." I asked my mother why the store didn't dry clean yellow or red clothes and she thought I was kidding.

I wasn't. She had to explain to me that it meant that black people couldn't go in there. It made me angry to know that these dumb hicks thought so little of some of their fellow citizens.

I don't care what a person's outer shell looks like. I want to know if he or she will keep his or her word. I want to know if I can depend on that person when troubled times come. And I want to know if that person will tell the truth no matter what the personal cost.

I will judge President Obama by his actions, not his heritage. And I hope that my fellow Americans will do the same thing, whether they voted for or against his skin color or his politics.

I wasn’t sure who I wanted to see win - so, like Labby, I was a little surprised to find tears in my cynical eyes when Obama won. I guess we’ll just have to see how Obama does. He certainly is facing a lot of challenges. I don’t envy him his job. But putting partisanship aside, or what type of President Obama might make, I heard this morning a quote that I thought summed up really well what transpired last night:

“Rosa Parks sat down so that Martin Luthor King could walk. Martin Luthor King walked so that Obama could run. Obama ran so that our children could fly.”

I think that was the thought behind what brought tears to my eyes. Or maybe I’m just becoming a sentimental old fool .

ML

Well... I cried too. But for a completely different reason.

I'm feeling many things about this election. One of them is perhaps a sense of pride that America is getting over its prejudice.

Another is one of frustration. I wish race wasn't an issue at all. I think we have a lot more growing to do as a country.

I'd like to see a day when a black man can run for President and it not even be brought up that he's black. I'd like to see the issues be the only thing that matters.

I do think that Obama has the country's best interest at heart and that gives me hope. But I can't feel like our country has made a giant leap forward when there are so many moral issues at stake (abortion, gay rights, etc.).

I wish Alan Keys could have won. <sniff> I would have been VERY proud to have him as our President.

When Obama got the nomination I thought, this is a good thing. It will be good for AAs to be inspired. May-be this will help eliminate affirmative action and whining about discrimination as an EXCUSE not to take responsibility...

As a "symbol" I still think that it's progress.

But then I got to know Obama... his record... his associations... his wrong-headed ideas about the economy... and I have LITTLE "hope" that the "change" he is offering will be good for the country. Quite the opposite.

Of course, part of the "history" being made here is that a shockingly inexperienced man, whose campaign consisted of rhetoric that sounded good, but was so VAUGE, people can just pour their own meaning into it... that such a person actually got elected is a first.

What I HOPE is that BO will get a reality check and CHANGE his mind. That he will not be a weak pacifist, inviting another attack on this country... that he will NOT be as SOCIALIST and LIBRAL as his record indicates him to be... that we will not have his ignorant ideas about taxes turn this recession into a depression...

I HOPE I'm wrong, but if Obama doesn't CHANGE his mind, he could very well make history by taking Carter's place as the WORST president the country's ever known...

Actually, no it isn't. I understand that Abraham Lincoln was just as inexperienced when he became President and as for vague rhetoric...you could charge most politicians on that count. I didn't hear much of what McCain was promising either - his campaign seemed to consist mostly of propaganda about what Obama would do.

Anyway, it's a waste of time re-visiting campaigns, so...moving on...

You know, I understood what a momentous thing this was at an intellectual level, but it really struck me at an emotional level when I was watching the news earlier.

In amongst the footage of joyous celebration a small African-American girl stood, vigorously waving an American flag and chanting "Obama!". I doubt she really understood it all, but when I saw her I realised that she was about the same age as Obama's youngest.

What will it mean to that little girl to see someone who looks just like her, who is her race, who is her age, growing up in the White House? To see a man who looks like her father in charge of America?

That, I think, will be the real triumph here. The inspiring of a whole generation of African-Americans to dare to reach further and higher than their parents ever could.

LabRat

I think you might have missed the point here, Captivated2. You've made it glaringly obvious how you feel about Obama, but I really don't feel that this is the place for it. There is a number of other threads where that sort of discussion might fit better.

The first line in this entire thread was

and I continued reading because it was a positive discussion where, I assumed, we could put aside our differences and agree that we have experienced a truly historic event.

Of course it's your right to post your opinion here, but like I said before, I feel like there are some more fitting threads for those opinions.

I congratulate our new president-elect for making history. Now that the people have spoken, it's time to support our new president and to wish him well. Even though people know what I think of his policies, I hope he succeeds in improving the country and in improving relations between the two parties.

In Australia, we have to vote because if we don't we get fined albeit a small amount but a fine all the same. My opinion of politicians in general is not high I believe they are all alike regardless of what party they are from.

No system of government is perfect. There is always going to be disagreement I mean we don't live in a perfect world. Given the state of the economy right now I wasn't surprised that people wanted change. In my opinion the Republican handling of the war in Iraq and the state of the economy was what sealed the deal for them. Bush's rescue package came a little too late to save the Republican campaign.

I'd like to think that we could put aside our personal views of Obama as a politician to acknowledge the fact that for a race that had largely been opressed for many years by slavery and segregation that they have achieved the highest office in America. One can say the same for that of Nelson Mandela after his release from prison that he too became South Africa's first black president.

When first heard that Obama had designs on the presidency, my initial thought was that the party nomination would go to Hilary because I didn't believe that America would vote for a black president before a woman was in office. Well I was wrong on that count, but his achievement means that we can see a woman in the running for the presidency in the next eleection. Voting a woman into office would now not be just a dream, but can be a reality because electing a minority group is an even bigger hurdle to overcome.

I'll end with this quote by Clarence Darrow in 1926: 'I would like to see a time when man loves his fellow man, and forgets his colour or his creed. We will never be civilised until that time comes.'

Yeah, CapeFetish, that's exactly what this thread is about, as I saw it when I started it: a celebration of a milestone in history, the same kind of milestone as in the UK in 1979 when Margaret Thatcher was elected prime minister. I still have little time for most of what Thatcher stood for, but I could and can still acknowledge her great achievement.

Stephnachia said:
Absolutely - but in order for that to happen, there has to be a first. Once you've had a black president, another black candidate running for president would be treated as any other candidate, black or white. If Hillary Clinton had been the nominee this year, the story would have been about the first woman potential president. It's now perfectly normal to have black and female senators and governors, but I still remember a time when that was considered something to comment on, far more than the person's policies or character.

It'll happen, and in our lifetime too. For now, as far as I'm concerned history was made last night and I'll always remember where I was the night Barack Obama was elected - and, too, I'll remember both candidates' speeches, McCain's gracious and honourable concession speech and Obama's inspirational and inclusive victory one.

Oh, and Terry: your post brought a lump to my throat, just as Obama's story of the 106-year-old voter last night did. These things were true in our lifetimes, just as apartheid in South Africa was, and we're seeing prejudice overcome and major milestones to equality achieved right before our eyes. There may be plenty more to be done, but steps such as these are a privilege to witness.


Wendy

No, sadly, It's still a dream, even more remote than I would have thought, even last year. There has been so much more sexism in the msm and also the internet coverage than I would have expected at this point. I now have no expectation that I will see a woman as President of the US in my life time because until those groups have accepted women as equals no Presidential election can be won.

Yet this is an historically significant time for the US, a first, a surmounting of what has been an oppressive yoke on the American psyche, an anvil on its soul. We must all hope for the future.

c.

I agree, Wendy. There has to be a first, just like, once upon a time, there was a first Democrat and a first Republican. And while Obama was not my choice candidate, it was an amazing realization that this man was able to bring down the race barrier and do something that many people thought wouldn't happen in our lifetime.

I admit that the flawed logic about black people voting for Obama only because he is black made me raise my eyebrows. I'm not black -- nor am I white, so does that mean I didn't vote because there wasn't a candidate up there waving an Indian flag? I don't think so. I voted for McCain, and wait ... let me check ... :::flips over to CNN::: Yep, he's still white.

I'd say that is an ignorant statement. This election has had more coverage than any other, starting long before the primaries. It was a rare night to not sit down for dinner or having morning coffee without John, Barack or Hillary.

Newspapers spent pages and pages going over the issues, covering the primaries, giving voters information. Web sites provided detailed information about state initiatives, as well as candidates.

Then again, some people just want someone to blame.

Unfortunately, there were probably some who voted for Obama primarily because he is black. Just as there were some who did NOT vote for him for the same reason. Ignorant viewpoints, both of those, in my opinion. But if people chose to squander their votes without making a reasoned decision, they have to live with the consequences, and with their own consciences.

Kathy

Please delete.

I can't resist, I've got to post this picture:



Have you noticed how much Barack Obama resembles his maternal grandfather? In this picture, the older man is white and the younger man is brown, and the young man has typically African frizzy hair, but otherwise they are so similar.

My colleague says that we are all Africans. He says that humanity arose in Africa, and then one group of African humans left Africa and spread across the rest of the globe. According to my colleague, almost each and every one of us are descendants of this group of Africans who left Africa. Those who can't trace their ancestry back to these African emigrants are several groups who remained in Africa. According to my colleague, the ethnic diversity in Africa is greater than the ethnic diversity in all of the rest of the world put together. In other words, people in Europe, India and China are more closely related to each other than people in various parts of Africa.

Sorry for going a bit off topic in this off topic thread, but I love that picture of Obama and his maternal grandparents.

Ann

Personally, I can't stand the guy. I still say if Obama was white, Clinton would have been the nominee (not that I think she is any better) Voting for someone because of their minority status is every bit as prejudiced as voting against them. I used to think we had come a long way, now I'm not so sure.

As was noted above, this thread was intended to mark a historic occasion. If you don't like Barack Obama, that's your right, but here we're talking about the historic significance of an African-American being elected president - and that does not imply that anyone voted for or against him because of his colour.


Wendy

Okay, I think I'm calling time here. We don't normally do this, but...

There are at least four or five political threads where you can register your disquiet, disgust or generally vent your frustration on the fact that your candidate didn't win. In fact, there's a ready-made thread for doing so in the 'pity party' thread. Or, you can even start a brand new thread to do so if you wish.

Ann/Carol - you might want to take the last option and start a new topic on women candidates and sexism. It might turn into an interesting conversation.

However, I'm declaring this thread to be solely for the purpose of celebrating Obama's win and I would appreciate that anyone posting here stays on topic and sticks to that alone, nothing else.

Don't be selfish - give us this one thread to be positive in. The rest of them you can have all to yourselves.

Thanks for your co-operation.

LabRat
Board Admins Team

Labrat, in my only post in this thread I was responding to earlier comments from others about hopes for a woman President, not introducing a new topic into the discussion.

As well, the final comment in my post was positive and spoke to the election of Barack Obama.

Ann, too, has been quite enthusiastic about Obama's win.

"Civil rights" is such a huge topic

c.

Carol, please re-read my earlier post. At no point did I say that you introduced the thread. What I said was that if you and Ann want to continue that discussion, please take it elsewhere.

Let me be clear on this. You and Ann were included in my earlier post not because you'd done anything wrong with your posts, but simply because between you, you'd embarked on a whole new topic of discussion that could easily blossom and take over the thread and I thought you might want to continue it elsewhere as you both seemed to find it an interesting topic all on its own.

It was an invitation to continue, not an admonition to stop. If I inadvertently hurt any feelings by that inclusion, or anyone misunderstood my intent there then I'm sorry about that. Nor was it an order to continue. If, as it turns out, neither of you are as interested in the subject as it seemed, there's no onus on either of you to discuss it any further. Entirely up to you guys!

Yes, the subject can be broad-ranging. But this thread is not intended to be a broad-ranging discussion on civil rights, nor was it Wendy's intent to make it so. I thought that Wendy had made that fairly clear. So, to pin this down completely, all I'm saying is, if you want to discuss another aspect of that subject, beyond Obama's win, please start a new thread for it or use one of the existing political threads.

I know that we don't normally insist on topics being kept on topic, so it may have come as a bit of a shock to be asked to do it this time around. And that's why no one in this thread did anything wrong by not keeping on topic, because you're not likely to expect it. It's just not usually something we are particularly concerned with on this forum. Unlike others who can bounce on you from a large height if you so much as include a sentence that might waver a little from the topic.

But in this case, I think it's justified.

Thanks.

LabRat

Not following your logic, there, Labrat.

Wendy actually indicated by referring to her hope for a woman President someday that she saw that as a legitimate part of a "civil rights" post.
c.

Well, I'm not sure that was her intent, Carol, I think this was:

Veering the thread onto a discussion about sexism in American politics seems to me to be off topic for the thread. I thought at the time I was doing you and Ann a favour, encouraging you to continue, making it clear I wasn't shutting you down. Ah well...no good deed and all that.

Anyway, I trust this finally makes my position and intent clear.

LabRat

Sorry, Labrat - I took your suggestion as a form of censorship, which I'm now less certain it was. Note, however, that my initial post did not address just the issue of sexism but also the positive aspect of the election. I thought that was an equally important part of my post, although you haven't commented on it.

Note, too, that my initial response was not specifically a reply to Wendy's "starter" post but to a different post. (although clearly I share Wendy's hope )

As for whether Wendy intended her post to be limited only to the narrower definition of civil rights only she can say for sure. All readers can do is consider a whole post and interpret it as they see it. Btw, you've cited Wendy, but that comment was made *after* my initial post so could not have affected how I interpreted her first post.

Perhaps there's an easy way out of this issue in the future? People starting a thread could indicate that they wish to limit discussion to one part only of their post. e.g. Wendy could have said she wanted people to comment *only* on the importance of Obama's election for the Civil Rights Movement. ?

c.

I am proud to have been able to participate in this election, especially since I am 23, so this is only the second time I have been able to cast a vote for our nation's president. I think that, whether you voted for McCain, Obama or one of the independents, we should all be proud to have voted in this election. For the first time we had a female vice presidential candidate and an african american presidential candidate as the prime contenders in our bi-partisan system. And whether or not you agree with his ideals, Obama's victory is something to be celebrated especially in the name of the people who did not vote for or against him based on the color of his skin but on their faith, or lack thereof, in his goals.

<sigh>

Okay, now I'm baffled. I cannot see how you could think it was censorship, Carol, at any point, since I made it perfectly clear from the outset that those who were wanting to post on subjects other than Obama's win had several other threads on the forum where they could do that. It takes a very strange brand of logic to hear censorship out of "you're very welcome to talk about this elsewhere on the forum, just not here...".

They could do. If they particularly wanted to. Or thought that some members might have a problem recognising what the thread topic was. Entirely up to them, I guess. Once again, though, Wendy seems to have made it entirely clear what her intentions were:

I won't quibble with you over what you interpreted her intentions to be or when you read her various clarifications of her intentions...or whatever. I'm not sure why you feel these are important points to nail down. They make no difference to me, nor have any bearing on my point which was pinning the topic of the thread down and eliminating those elements not on topic. What is important is that you respect her intentions now that you know what they were.

Now, I'm extremely busy with Archive stuff today, so this will be my last post on this one. I think I've made my position clear and I just don't have time to go around in ever decreasing circles on the subject.

LabRat

Labrat, I said a "form of censorship".

In that you were limiting the parts of the original post which could be commented on in this thread (and after the fact at that) it was a form of censorship. As well, I would interpret your suggestion to 'take it elsewhere' as a polite way of limiting comment, especially in the context on these mbs where threads have often gone quite impressively (and frequently entertaininly ) onto things not even mentioned in the original post. Like being asked to leave the room, so to speak.

Had the topic not been touched on in the original post, however, I don't think "censorship" could be used.

I mentioned the other part of my post in an effort to show there was more to my post than just that one aspect, just like Wendy's original post. I was not trying to highjack a thread. But rather to suggest that as important as this election was, there's more to be done.

Well, I'm absolutely convinced, Labrat, that you and I will never agree on anything. Time to let it go.

Maybe we should both be writing fanfic instead. (and this last comment is hugely OT.

c.

Yeah, I thought this was a pretty darn exciting election. We could have made history in a number of ways! (Also a nod to Clinton there from the primaries.) It didn't pan out the way I'd hoped, but my hat's off to Obama for his victory and also for getting people involved. I personally knew a lot more people this year that took an interest in the election than 2004's, and I feel like his energy had a lot to do with that. And hopefully they will keep paying attention and realize the issues are all the time and not just every 4 years.

Also, like a few others mentioned, a quick hat off to McCain and his speech; as a Republican, I hope I will be able to look to him as an example of support for our new pres.

It's pretty darn awesome to add another to the history books.
Cheers,
JD

Being a political junkie, I'm going to nitpick here and point out that it's the second time we've had a female vice presidential candidate (Mondale/Ferraro '84) .

Lol... being that that was the year I was born I wasn't aware of that from my own memories.... I scanned a wiki list of female VP candidates and only saw Palin under democrat or republican... apparently I should have scanned better or selected a more readable source... wiki was a bunch of tables...

I think this series of pictures sum up what happened quite nicely:

http://www.aprilwinchell.com/2008/11/05/tuesday/

*wipes the tear from her eyes that suddenly appeared while she looked at that website*

Oh dear. Carol, no-one's trying to censor anything. I didn't start this thread laying out rules and restrictions about what should and shouldn't be discussed in here. It's pretty simple: I wanted to say what a historic milestone the result of Tuesday's election is, for the US and for the world.

And, yes, as others have commented since, it's nice to have a thread where we're just celebrating something, as opposed to rehashing partisan arguments between people who will never agree with each other and can't even view the same information from the same perspective. It's a refreshing change - that's all.

I agree with LabRat that the question of when, or even whether, there'll be a female president could make a fascinating discussion. And I'll tell you what: I'll even start a thread on it. I'll look forward to seeing you in there


Wendy

Thanks for the lovely pictures, Jojo!

Ann (who also wiped a tear from her eye)

Thanks for the reassurance, Wendy.

c.

I'm feeling a bit like Ann today as I'm about to post a ton of pictures. But hopefully like I love the pictures in Ann's post you will appreciate these. I got a great email today showing reactions around the world to Obama's win.

Barack's step-grandmother Sarah Obama in Kogelo , Kenya:


At Obama's former school in Jakarta , Indonesia:


Manila , Philippines :


Shanghai:


Athens , Greece:


Jakarta , Indonesia:


Jerusalem , Israel:


Sydney , Australia:

Labby or Wendy... if this is to many images let me know I can edit it down to just links. Or you can if you need to do it quickly.

Afghanistan:


Obama , Japan:


India:


Paris , France:


Dakar , Senegal:


London:

Yes there is more!

These are just general pictures:

Last one I promise! Again if these are to annoying guys let me know. I'll edit them down.

Love the pictures, Jojo. They remind me of my mother-in-law, who called me last night and asked if I cried Tuesday night. (I did not) Apparently she was crying up a storm (with joy!) and couldn't sleep with all the excitement.

Your pictures are so lovely, Jojo. Indeed there are many people all over the world who marvel and and rejoice at these images.

Ann

Another set of pictures:

http://digitaljournalist.org/issue0810/callie-bp.html

This one documents Obama's run for president and have some really great candid moments. (Keep hitting the link at the bottom to see them all)

I wasn't able to vent my feelings on the day, due to having my parents with me (we differ rather a lot these days, politically speaking), so it's been a real pleasure to read all the positive messages on this thread and re-live this historic moment in world history.

For the record, I'm absolutely delighted that America has elected its first African American President. I'm slightly less delighted that he's a year younger than me. Boy, does that make me feel old!

Yvonne

I am northern born (Ohio) and went to college in Tennessee in the 1960s. I have seen a lot of history, and not all of it was civil. I was in Chattanooga when Martin Luthur King was killed in Memphis. I watched a town explode in a negative way in reaction to frustration.

I love jo-jo's pictures. The pure joy on the faces with the tears streaming is a wonder. Most of us, white and black alike, never thought we would see a day when a educated, articulate man with a mixed heritage (which should make him more ready for this job than anyone before him) could successfully win an election to become our president.

To those who did not vote for him, remember that the last president who seemed to have the gift of gab and little else working for him was a very good president. I am referring to Ronald Reagan. Who would have thought that an actor and the president of the screen actors guild would amount to anything. Let's all sit back and give him our support and hope that with our help and prayers, he too will become the healing force that we need right now in this country.

Pat

I found this photo late in the campaign and was immediately struck by it. For me, it immediately summed it all up in one image - the man, the campaign, the whole ball of wax.

Obama Hugs Child

LabRat

Delightful, LabRat. It's such a delightfully ordinary little boy, hugging Obama with such incredible joy on his face, and his father is looking on and taking pictures, bursting with pride and happiness.

I also keep thinking of a picture of another little boy with Obama, the boy in the last photo that JoJo posted in her first post on this page. This little black boy is dressed up in a white shirt and tie, looking up at his President-elect with deep admiration and a kind of joyous solemnity. I really believe he is thinking to himself: 'I, too, will strive for excellence and try to do something for my country and all the people here.'

Ann