Another satisfying week in the bag
This has been a really good week, all things considered.
On Tuesday, Barack Obama won the US presidential election. Why do I, a proud Canadian, care? Well, any US election affects Canada, but this one was especially sweet. First, the Democrats are back in. That's a good thing for a lot of reasons. I wonder what the state of the world would be right now if Al Gore had won in 2000? No one knows for sure, but I think it's safe to say we wouldn't have lost close to 100 Canadians in the Middle East by now. And how many US soldiers dead, injured, or otherwise changed forever, not to mention the virtual destruction of Iraq and her people? Would the US economy be in the toilet right now if there had been a more responsible administration at the helm for the past 8 years? (Where is G Dubya, anyway? Has anyone seen him lately?)
Of course, we don't know yet what kind of a President Omaba will be, but he seems to be a brilliant man with a conscience and an uncanny ability to surround himself with the right people. He wasn't brought up in a wealthy, privileged home yet he has made it to the top seat in the land (arguably the world). I think he's there for the right reasons and I think, as hard as his job will be, that he will bring some positive changes to the White House (and a puppy!).
But one of the most exciting things about this win is that the American people have voted in a black guy. A black guy in the Oval Office.
What must this mean to the Little Rock Nine, a group of brave African American kids who stood up against hate at its ugliest and fought through crowds of angry white people for their newly-won right to attend a public high school in the late 50s. They actually brought the National Guard to stop the kids -- that's how much the State of Arkansas didn't want to end segregation. The Federal government finally stepped in and, with the help of the 101st Airborne division of the US military, the kids were able to enter the school. The hate against these brave teenagers, just trying to get an education, was so strong. Where did they find that kind of bravery?
What must this mean for every black American who remembers the days prior to JFK's Civil Rights Act of 1964, when they couldn't even vote. (1964, if you can believe it -- that's so recent!) For everyone who sang "we shall overcome", the day is here. Civil rights at its finest. Oh, there is still hate, racism won't disappear in our lifetime (if ever), but there is a voice in the White House for racial equality that cannot be ignored. I can't imagine what this means to the black community who have fought so hard and so long to be heard.
God Bless America. It is a beautiful day.
Then, as if that wasn't enough for one week, the mighty Edmonton Eskimos made it into the second round of playoffs yesterday. I can't believe it, but I love it!
And today Mitchie and I went to church and out for brunch, and then Chaeli and I went to the movies.
I can't stop smiling today. It's been a really, really terrific week.
On Tuesday, Barack Obama won the US presidential election. Why do I, a proud Canadian, care? Well, any US election affects Canada, but this one was especially sweet. First, the Democrats are back in. That's a good thing for a lot of reasons. I wonder what the state of the world would be right now if Al Gore had won in 2000? No one knows for sure, but I think it's safe to say we wouldn't have lost close to 100 Canadians in the Middle East by now. And how many US soldiers dead, injured, or otherwise changed forever, not to mention the virtual destruction of Iraq and her people? Would the US economy be in the toilet right now if there had been a more responsible administration at the helm for the past 8 years? (Where is G Dubya, anyway? Has anyone seen him lately?)
Of course, we don't know yet what kind of a President Omaba will be, but he seems to be a brilliant man with a conscience and an uncanny ability to surround himself with the right people. He wasn't brought up in a wealthy, privileged home yet he has made it to the top seat in the land (arguably the world). I think he's there for the right reasons and I think, as hard as his job will be, that he will bring some positive changes to the White House (and a puppy!).
But one of the most exciting things about this win is that the American people have voted in a black guy. A black guy in the Oval Office.
What must this mean to the Little Rock Nine, a group of brave African American kids who stood up against hate at its ugliest and fought through crowds of angry white people for their newly-won right to attend a public high school in the late 50s. They actually brought the National Guard to stop the kids -- that's how much the State of Arkansas didn't want to end segregation. The Federal government finally stepped in and, with the help of the 101st Airborne division of the US military, the kids were able to enter the school. The hate against these brave teenagers, just trying to get an education, was so strong. Where did they find that kind of bravery?
What must this mean for every black American who remembers the days prior to JFK's Civil Rights Act of 1964, when they couldn't even vote. (1964, if you can believe it -- that's so recent!) For everyone who sang "we shall overcome", the day is here. Civil rights at its finest. Oh, there is still hate, racism won't disappear in our lifetime (if ever), but there is a voice in the White House for racial equality that cannot be ignored. I can't imagine what this means to the black community who have fought so hard and so long to be heard.
God Bless America. It is a beautiful day.
Then, as if that wasn't enough for one week, the mighty Edmonton Eskimos made it into the second round of playoffs yesterday. I can't believe it, but I love it!
And today Mitchie and I went to church and out for brunch, and then Chaeli and I went to the movies.
I can't stop smiling today. It's been a really, really terrific week.
posted by ruthieB | 4:21 PM
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