I've been holding my breath for nearly a month now; hoping, worrying, clenching my teeth, tossing through sleepless nights.
We have suffered through the worst of the nefarious, dirty tactics from the opposition. It was a representation of all that has been bad, all that has been reprehensible about the political climate in the United States of America. I watched with horror election after election as these tactics of fear, hate and manipulation worked. I considered more than once the possibility of residing outside my country. But I didn't want to.
I wanted My Country back. I wanted the country represented by all the people who were good, generous, ethical, and yes, smart.
I grew up in the 60s; a time of hope and revolution in itself. I thought I was witnessing the awakening of a new world only to watch it sink into darkness when we were delivered into the eras of Nixon and Reagan. It seemed as if I would never again in my lifetime believe that my country represented me and my beliefs about how we should be citizens of the world and how our country should care for one another.
To see this campaign of high moral standing, of real vision, and of willingness to include all, has been the fulfillment of a dream and the awakening from a nightmare.
My hope is that the campaign of John McCain will leave such a sour aftermath that it will steer future campaigns away from such filth that sullies what democracy should be about.
At 8:00PM tonight MSNBC called the election for Barack Obama. Tears welled up in my eyes. I never cry. But tonight, at that moment, I felt to my core the reality of what was upon us all. I felt pride of country, love of country, and tremendous, overhelming HOPE.
This is not a long-thought-out diary; it's a statement and a shout releasing me from 8 years of hell.
Congratulations to President-Elect, Barack Obama. Congratulations to us all.