Time to Process

Okay, I've dried my tears and have had some time to process the whole idea of a President Obama. I have to say, I was scared to hope. I was truly scared that this would be like every other election I've ever voted in; where the scarier of the two candidates won. This was the first time I've been able to vote for someone I truly, passionately believed in....as opposed to the candidate that I thought would "f" up the country less. And after the past 8 years, I'd pretty much given up on the idea of hope. I've marched with hundreds of thousands- enough to literally fill up Washington D.C.- only to have it called a "focus group", assuming it wasn't ignored completely. I've watched the Commander in Chief say that my religion isn't one. I've sobbed at the funerals of family members who died because when they couldn't find work anywhere else, they enlisted. I've sobbed again in the halls of Congress when elected officials (cough...JOHN McCAIN...cough) tell me that he's willing to "take a chance" with my husbands life, as long as there might be potential for resolution in Iraq and that obviously Rob's cousin died because he was simply too lazy or too stupid to look for a civilian job before joining the Army. The idea of compassion, of dialogue, of hope, has not been a part of my reality for the past eight years. Now it is. Barak Obama wasn't the candidate I supported because he was the Democrat. He was my pick in the primaries (well, he would've been if our state government hadn't acted in such hubris as to cost us our electoral voice) from the minute he announced. And then, he got the nomination! And now, he's WON! Honestly....I didn't believe it could happen. And I am so incredibly hopeful and grateful and blessed. And while I know that much of my family is die-hard conservative and is undoubtedly taking this very hard; I'll remind everyone that the Bible says that our leaders are chosen by powers higher than just our little votes and ask them to be glad- glad that Little Pom has a chance to perhaps access amazingly life-changing medical care, if nothing else.  There's a song by the duo "Emma's Revolution" that kinda sums up how I'm feeling right now. Here are the lyrics. And here's to hope for the future!

bound for freedom

©1997 Pat Humphries

Moving Forward Music, BMI

www.emmasrevolution.com

In Montgomery and in Selma and the streets of Birmingham

The people sent a message to the leaders of the land.

We have fought and we have suffered but we know the wrong from right.

We are family, we are neighbors, we are black and we are white.

Here I go bound for freedom, may my truth take the lead

Not the preacher, not the congress, not the millionaire but me

I will organize for justice. I will raise my voice in song.

And our children will be free to lead the world and carry on.

Here I go though I'm standing on my own,

I remember those before me and I know I'm not alone.

I will organize for justice. I will raise my voice in song,

And our children will be free to lead the world and carry on.

From the streets of New York City 'cross the ocean and beyond

People from all nations create a common bond.

With our conscience as our weapon, we are witness to the fall.We are simple, we are brilliant, We are one and we are all.