Obama Express

I haven't posted anything since the election because, well, I was satisfied. Obama was elected, and not only just barely elected but elected by a large margin. Election night moved me to tears. I finally felt, for the very first time, a politician who spoke to me personally, asked me to do everything that I can to work with him to make our country and our world a better place. Barak Obama reflects my values of community involvement, respect for humanity, the environment, our resources and that every person deserves dignity, respect and lifting up no matter what their flaws. His values also ask me and each person to strive to be his or her best at whatever we choose to do.


My family has been given a wonderful opportunity to be in Washington DC for the innaguration. My husband and I felt strongly that we want our children to be a witness to this historic event and we ourselves want to be as well. The world is changing so fast and Obama is a big part of that change. My one big hope is that he can keep it real and be accessible to the people, to really speak to the people and hear the people as his presidency unfolds. GW did not speak to me. He spoke to maybe 10 people, those who truly benefited from his policies. it amazes me that he spent more time doing press in the past two weeks that he has the past year. He wasn't the people's president like he was supposed to be. And in spite of Obama being a democrat, given his approach so far, he seems to be off to a good start as every person's leader not just a select few. He doesn't have the hubris and personal flaws of Clinton, he doesn't have the arrogance and poor judgement of GW, he has the political mandate that Carter never gained, he has the charisma and "wow" factor of Reagan without the dementia. he is inspiring and is relating to the public in a very personal way.

Today, I traveled with my two elementary school aged children to dc to witness the innaguration. Our train was directly behind the Obama express. We were delayed and moved very slowly for a large portion of the trip. It was long, yet at the same time exhilirating. Knowing that Obama was on the same track we were, the same track that Lincoln traveled and so many other great men and women, then when we passed his train and saw all of the hundreds of people at the Wilmington station waving and cheering, my heart leapt for joy. I know all of this sounds like a complete lovefest with no criticism or balance, but this is the time to have that. Once tuesday comes and the next bailout, stimulus package or troubled withdrawal from an illegal war happens and the real work begins, Obama, like every president will have to make tough decisions, maybe even sometimes unpopular ones. GW made some doosies. Unfortunately for all of us he made the wrong choices.

On a personal note, I really do hope that my kids remember this trip and remember the things we see, hear and do while we are here. There will be long lines, port-o-johns, waiting, huge crowds. But there will also be spirit, joy, celebration, euphoria, emotion and awe. There is a spiritual experience that happens when you share a common experience with a large group of people. Go to a sports stadium for any game and you can see a glimpse of it. Attend an event for a cause you believe in and you will feel it. To share space with millions of people to celebrate the swearing in of the first African American president of this nation, a nation that thrived and prospered from the slavery and human traffiking of his ancestors, is truly awe inspiring.



I attended a meeting the other day of folks involved in community service who come together to discuss race and racism. Someone there shared that some well meaning white people ask how it feels to have racism finished with now that Obama has been elected. The individual who shared this had not formulated a response to this because of the emotion it stirred up. Another in the group said, this isn't the end it is just the beginning. Truly it is a beginning, a new beginning, for all of us and for a better tomorrow for all the world's children.