IT'S A NEW DAY!

ROSA sat
so that
MARTIN could walk
so that
OBAMA could run
so that
OUR CHILDREN can fly.

Talking about Serious things such as politics isn’t really our style, but I simply can’t let such a momentous day go by without saying anything. Unsuprisingly, us Errolers are decidedly left wing. This is a truly Happy Day for us. Strap yourselves in kids, because I’m gonna actually be sincere. I know I know, I’m freaked out too.

To say I am overjoyed about America’s election result is an understatement. It’s not exactly a suprise, but deep down I don’t think I believed that it could actually happen. I have a special connection to the USA. I have spent alot of time there, and have friends that are basically my second family. The last 8 years have killed me in the soul because I KNOW that country is better than Bush and his hateful ideals.

I remember 4 years ago how utterly devastated I was when they elected Bush back in. After all that had happened, HOW could they do that? It defied description. I remember sitting on the edge of my bed, half wanting to cry, half wanting to hit someone. I started to think things would never change. But then last year, we elected Kevin Rudd into office. The pendulum was starting to swing back.

I knew America needed a Huge Change. I didn’t really believe it was possible until my surrogate sisters Jessi and Addie informed me they were gonna vote for Barack. They are basically my family and I adore them, but our political ideals were on the opposite end of the scale to say the least. Especially Jessi, who up until recently was a card carrying Republican. Who voted for Bush in 2004. They were born in Tennesssee, a conservative red state if ever there was one. And despite that, it’s my second home and I love it dearly.

Jessi messaged me after watching Obama’s nomination acceptance speech and I could feel her emotion through my computer screen. She explained that she had always been jealous of the pride, commitment and love I feel for Australia. She had never felt that for America. She wondered if she ever would. But Barack made her feel that way. She finally understood what it was like to have pride in your nation, and believe that it can do good things. Barack gave her hope.

I just watched Obama’s speech. Yeh, I cried. Like a little bitch. I am not a particularly emotional person. I never cry when I’m sposed to. A friend is leaving for overseas? Nothin. Weddings? Nothin. Sad movies…NOTHIN. In fact the last time I really cried was when the Dragons lost their semi against the Tigers in 2005. THAT WAS THEIR YEAR DAMNIT. The tears may have had something to do with the copious amounts of vodka I had consumed, but whatever.

Obama was always a long shot. A black man with a Muslim sounding name…president of the United States? Unlikely. I had resigned myself to Hilary getting the nomination. And I was kind of okay with that. Anything is better than Bush right? But obviously some Americans didn’t agree. They could see the bigger picture, and they worked their arses off to achieve their goals. Obama thanked them.

It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give five dollars and ten dollars and twenty dollars to this cause. It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation’s apathy; who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep; from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on the doors of perfect strangers; from the millions of Americans who volunteered, and organized, and proved that more than two centuries later, a government of the people, by the people and for the people has not perished from this Earth. This is your victory.

OKAY I’M CRYING AGAIN. DAMN YOU BARACK.

Some of my tears can be attributed to the fact that they used the Remember The Titans theme music. BASTARDS. That’s only my favourite movie ever. Sitting in front of the TV watching all this take place is kind of surreal. It’s like a movie. As Sassy says, ‘Barack is so cool…he’s like a movie president BUT HE’S REAL’. I say this as a white Australian, but can you imagine what African Americans are feeling? What people who campaigned for civil rights in the 60′s are going through? I bet it won’t sink in for weeks.

More than anything, I feel lucky. It is such a privilege to be able to witness history in the making. I remember listening to the radio reports of America’s first push into Iraq on my way to uni. I sat in the carpark for about 40 minutes trying to comprehend what was happening. That was shitty history. I resented being alive to witness that. This? This is happy days my friends. We are so fortunate. For the first time in a long time, I am proud of our alliance with the United States. We both have new leaders now. Leaders we deserve.

The President elect told us not to give into cynicism. So I won’t. I’m gonna embrace my cheesiness. Obama’s victory makes me believe in the impossible. That change can happen. Democracy is real…and worthwhile. Dreams can be achieved. Just when you think darkness will prevail, a new light emerges.

Because I am a nerd of epic proportions, I watched Lord of the Rings : The Two Towers last night. This quote struck a chord with me, I hope it does the same for you.

Sam: It’s like in the great stories Mr. Frodo, the ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were, and sometimes you didn’t want to know the end because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end it’s only a passing thing this shadow, even darkness must pass.

A new day will come, and when the sun shines it’ll shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you, that meant something even if you were too small to understand why. But I think Mr. Frodo, I do understand, I know now folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn’t. They kept going because they were holding on to something.

Frodo: What are we holding onto, Sam?

Sam: That there’s some good in the world, Mr. Frodo, and it’s worth fighting for.

(the woman on the left is Martin Luther King’s sister)

IT’S A NEW DAY BABIES! YAY!