Yes, It's Really Happening

Kristin Teigen

Just in case you missed it, here is Obama at the Lincoln Memorial today, a preview of what we will see on Tuesday. I wasn't there, but many friends and family members were. Among them was my 11 year old goddaughter who will grow up with a sense that America is a place where citizens, herself included, are asked to dig deep to build the country they want to see, as they were nearly 50 years ago.

Many of us have hearts that our bursting with happiness...some are wary and doubtful that true change can ever come. No matter what you think of Obama and this time in history, he does remind us that whatever justice we want to see, it is up to us to create it. George Carlin said, "Inside every cynical person, there is a disappointed idealist." After eight horrendous years, perhaps we can put aside our disappointment, our heartbreak, long enough to imagine and more importantly, help create a renewed America.


  • BOHICA (unverified)
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    Or as Martin Luther King Jr. said, I have a dream (Youtube of the full speech)

  • Bill R. (unverified)
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    Thanks, Kristin. You always post hopeful and upbeat content.

    My wish for this list and especially for those who worship,as my Irish Roman Catholic dad used to say, at the shrine of "Our Lady of Perpetual Resentment," is to be inspired for at least a day. I find myself after 60 years of life as an American to be weepy and filled with gratitude. I remember how I felt at age 20 in 1968, with so many crushed hopes. Today feels like being reborn, and the pall of alienation has lifted.

    Barack Obama wrote an open letter to his daughters and cited from their grandmother that what makes America great, is not that it is perfect, but that it has the capacity to correct itself and to grow and learn.

    I am among those who never dreamed this day would come in my lifetime, never hoped that we would elect a president with such promise, who calls forth the best in us, and who, at such a young age possesses the wisdom and qualities of character, the acuity of intellect and imagination to lead us to a better day and a deeper and more compassionate national soul.

  • jj_luthergoober (unverified)
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    I'm as thrilled as the anyone else with Obama's optimism and verve. And I'm proud that America has come far enough for all of America to enjoy an African American as our future President.

    But the question remains; How in the world did a two-bit imbecile manage to steal not one but two General Elections, usurp the U.S. Constitution, lose $30B to unaccountable contractors, invade/destroy a country without cause and politicize every aspect of the Governemtn charged with doing the peoples' business?

    We shall overcome, but it looks like only after we were overwhelmed.

  • Bill R. (unverified)
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    @ jj

    There is nothing new about the nearly infinite fallibility of human beings nor the universality and banality of evil. If we look at the course of human history, there is great reason to celebrate the saints as well as to commiserate the sinners, that we all are. Tomorrow is a most excellent day to celebrate the triumph of our better angels. The collective decision we made on Nov. 8 matters, despite the collective decisions that brought George W. Bush to power. So the glass is a little more than half full, and this historic experiment in the dignity of human equality and justice we call the United States of America is worthy of our continuing best efforts, and is a good work in progress.

  • j_luthergoober (unverified)
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    "There is nothing new about the nearly infinite fallibility of human beings nor the universality and banality of evil." (As a American transcendentalist I view all three Bush eras (RWR was a puppet - Skull and Bones doesn't mess around) as an anomoly to American liberty.)

    <h2>But the actionable question remains; where in the hell was the legal community during the last 8 years??? I'll tell you where, lining up to sue Philip Morris that's where. I was absolutely amazed that the US Supreme Court took a day or two to find for Bush over Gore in the FL recount but were satisfied with torture, war powers, legal ethics and checks/balances for the last 7.5 years. When the process is compromised, it is essential that past precedent be challenged, otherwise American democracy is doomed!</h2>

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