From Election Heartache to Election Joy

I have never been so happy to stand corrected! When I wrote my last posting this past Sunday, I was feeling quite anxious about the election. I am beyond overjoyed that my feeling of dread about the election was for naught. I feel a tremendous sense of relief and elation that Barack Obama won the election and will serve as the 44th President of the United States of America. From the depth of my heart I thank God.

When I watched Barack Obama's speech last night, I had a surge of guilt when he used the words "cynicism, fear and doubt". Although I'm not proud of it, I am willing to admit that those words described me. Fear was the most predominant of the feelings. I was very fearful that not enough Americans had evolved to the point where such a monumental milestone could be achieved: a black man will be President. I don't know. Maybe I owe some kind of apology for doubting. Maybe cynicism is one of my character flaws. Maybe I am weak for not being able to overcome fear. Each of us looked at the election through slightly different lenses. I consider myself a person of strong convictions. I also know that I am usually cloaked in a shroud of uncertainty. My personal challenge now is to accept my feelings for what they were and to find my own sense of entitlement to celebrate, irresepective of those who use hope and faith as a basis for judgment and superiority (and I ain't talkin' about Barack Obama here, a man who seems genuine in his hope and faith).

What happened yesterday in the election is nothing short of spectacular. Barack Obama is the right choice. What a triumph that character prevailed! I absolutely believe that he has what it takes to change the political culture. While the road ahead will be difficult, Barack Obama has already graced us immeasurably with his reverence, composure, and humility. He is a class act, a role model, and an inspiration of proportions large enough to make even an old uncertain, doubtful, judgmental, fearful cynic like me feel hopeful for the first time in a long, long time.

Election Heartache: A Somber Commentary

Well over a month ago, my friend Renee and I were talking politics and she used the phrase "election heartache". That phrase stuck with me and I have given it a lot of thought over the weeks since we had that conversation. Recently, I moved from thinking about "election heartache" to actually feeling it. My heart has been so heavy over the offensiveness and absurdity of the Republican party and it's supporters that I have had to tune out from as much election coverage as possible. I reached the point where I felt like I just couldn't take it any more. I haven't even been able to write on this blog. I've had a bad case of election heartache as I've watched this debacle unfold in a frenzy as election day nears.

For the past week, I have been nearly immobilized by fear about the possibility of the worst case scenario coming true; John McCain and Sarah Palin being elected to the White House. I know the polls show Barack Obama in the lead, but I have this deep feeling of dread. I drive around and see all the McCain/Palin yard signs and I just get this feeling that I'm going to wake up on Wednesday morning, look at the news, and see clips from John McCain's victory rally. My God, I hope I'm wrong. When I see McCain/Palin yard signs, I just think to myself, "Who are these people that want McCain/Palin to win the election? Are they not paying attention??" I am always especially perplexed when I see a McCain/Palin yard sign in front of a house where someone who is obviously middle or lower-middle class lives. How can you be middle or lower-middle class and want John McCain to be president? In those cases, I think one of two things must be the case. 1) Those middle/lower class individuals who want McCain/Palin to win are of the religious right and believe that Roe v. Wade should be overturned. 2) Those middle/lower class who want McCain/Palin to win are racist. And that's where my fear about the election comes from; my inability to close my eyes to the pervasive racism that still exists in the country. It's always there. Sometimes it's overt. Sometimes it's covert. But it's always there. African Americans experience it in both big and small ways every single day. And now, the future of America is riding on people's ability to transcend the racist ideology that has existed since this country was founded. Can that really happen? I hate to be a pessimist, but right now I have little faith that enough Americans have evolved to the point where a black man can be elected President of the United States. The truth is, if Barack Obama doesn't win this election, it won't be because he's allegedly inexperienced, or his "ties" to William Ayers, or his Aunt's immigration status. All of those accusations by John McCain and the Republican party are hollow and everyone should know it. 140+ years after the abolition of slavery, we still live in a society in which people are judged by the color of their skin instead of the content of their character. If in this election voters selected candidates based on character, Barack Obama would win by a land slide and John McCain and Sarah Palin would be banished from politics forever. The fact that the polls are close speaks volumes about where we are as a society. Not nearly evolved enough. Still judging people by the color of their skin, character aside. And that is the root of my election heartache.