I’m crying, or at least tearing up. I, who almost didn’t vote for Obama (because of the FISA bill – California is a “safe” democratic state, so I considered voting for Nader). But I’m crying because, not to be corny, I finally have faith, hope, that America is a country I could be proud of. A country that has finally been able to transcend race, where the possibilities might finally exists for *anyone* (perhaps even a 10-year old Muslim boy somewhere in the Midwest) to one day become President.
Given the incredibly nasty, fear mongering, disgusting campaign that McCain (and Palin, let’s not forget her) ran – it wasn’t clear to me that that was possible. And still, almost 50% of the country voted for a ticket that represented that fear and that hate. But the majority didn’t – which tell me that we are finally moving in the right direction.
I’m also thrilled that so many young people put so much of themselves into the Obama campaign. Young people tend to be idealistic (and Obama really presented hope) and active – so perhaps there shouldn’t be much of a surprise. But what matters is that these young people represent a new generation of Americans that may very well be color blind. Today we cherish the fact that a black man could become president of the US. Perhaps 20 or 30 years from now, we won’t think anything of it. Our kids won’t understand what the big deal was.
It was easy for me, ultimately and despite Obama’s vote on the FISA bill, to vote for Obama. No, I haven’t read his books and I haven’t listened to many of his speeches – but what I’ve heard made me think that Obama was one of us. A generation of people who received a liberal education (in the actual sense of the word) in massive numbers, and who share a core set of principles: a belief on liberty (again, despite the FISA bill), on equality, on the fraternity of man. Yes, those beliefs that inspired the American constitution and the French revolution. The beliefs and ideals on which this country was founded and that once made it lead the world, not by force, but by example. Who knows? Perhaps I’m optimistic. Perhaps I’m thinking of a liberal elite, from my safe haven in the Bay Area. I wish to think that my generation will change America.
Locally, I am just as ecstatic that the three candidates I supported for local office also won. I had no doubt that Morgan Mack-Rose would win. All in all, she was the perfect candidate, but also a safe candidate: a college educated mom, PTA president, with an in-depth knowledge of both education and the shortcomings of our school district. But I wondered if Ursula Reed, our black candidate, could beat Linda Perry, a white woman and native of San Leandro who has been involved in local politics forever. San Leandro, after all, was until the ’70’s, an enclave of white racism. Blacks and other minorities were not allowed to live in town (see The Suburban Wall, a TV magazine segment about San Leandro), and were hassled by police when they crossed the border from Oakland. We’ve had two black city council members before, but they had to be appointed. This is the first time that a black political novice wins an election – and she did it without the support of the political establishment.
I’m equally happy – and amazed – that Hermy Almonte won a seat in the School Board, against a well known white incumbent. Hermy is a Filipino immigrant, with an accent as thick as mine. Even though San Leandro has a population that is at least 25% foreign-born, I really doubted that a person of color that wasn’t born here could get the support of the electorate. I was wrong – and I’m thrilled that I was wrong. Not just because Hermy is going to be a great School Board member – he’s smart, thoughtful and actually cares about improving education in San Leandro (imagine that), but because I was wrong on my assumptions. San Leandro has changed, it is now a much more inclusive city. I can be proud not only to be an American, but a San Leandran.