you gotta admit – it’s amazing
So a black man is president and I’m still a second class citizen in my own fucking country. It’s a bitter sweet pill to swallow and mostly I’m focusing on the sweet part. I didn’t want this election to turn on gay marriage, but damn it sucks to be confronted with spite and hate.
I watched the election with friends and was not at all impressed with any talking head who tried to sum up the historical nature, the watershed moment, we all participated in last night. But give some people microphones and time slots and they will fill it up anyway. For me it was kinda like our Berlin Wall coming down. And Jessie Jackson tearing up said what no pundit could express anyway. I left to come home feeling subdued, not that it’s unusual for me to hold back, and I sat down to watch Obama speak by myself and I just started crying. I was moved and proud to be a second class America citizen. I feel forever grateful to all the good people who worked the Obama campaign.
It’s a glorious start, but now we have some work to do. Our day will come.
That’s what I like to hear! I’m gonna ride the wave of your optimism. Thanks for the note.
bittersweet indeed, but like you i’m trying to stay focused on all the good stuff. cause there’s a whole bunch of good stuff.
In this case the good stuff and the sucky stuff aren’t mutually exclusive.
And heall yeah, it’s GOOD STUFF. Historically good. I cried last night good.
I’m just not shying away from or being quiet about my second class citizenship is all. Certainly, the new Prez isn’t either, as he supports separate but equal treatment for gay marriage, which has pissed me of all along. Reality is I don’t enjoy the same rights as he does. And I personally am not interested in making that pill any easier to swallow than I already have.
But hell yeah, GOOD STUFF!
I konked out early last night with a little migraine, but Val came in and woke me to tell me Obama had won. In my haze it didn’t sink in, but I cried early in the morning, watching his acceptance speech. HELL YES!
But then I cried again, for a totally different reason, when I read about the results of Prop 8 – we’d been ahead when I fell asleep – and it just felt like it was part of the whole – win win.
But like Ned said, this fight isn’t over. I’d rather we didn’t have to do this shit at all, but we’re going to win this battle in the culture war. I have no doubt in my mind. And in some sense, I wonder that we won’t be stronger for it. Meanwhile prejudice is validated and how many young kids grow up in a culture of hate and internalize it? Ugh.
Yep, Obama’s stance on gay marriage doesn’t jibe with mine. I’m willing to give him a pass for now while he works on the other stuff, but I agree with making it clear that he’s not there yet. The more people speak out on it, the easier it will be for politicians to come around. Actually, I expect business to play a big role in this, as they fear losing qualified employees to states with rational laws about marriage.