American Election Day: 4 November 2008

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When I wrote my first blog piece on the campaign in April 2007, election day, November 4, 2008, seemed like years away. I thought we would never reach it in that long drawn out campaign. Yet here we are, on the day which is likely to change American history forever and to lead the world down a different kind of route and mindset; the day when a different kind of leader, of a different colour and entirely different background takes his place along the ranks of similar presidents that have adorned the White House walls and the American psyche. This most amazing day has finally crept upon us without us even noticing. And here we all are, standing on a bridge between the known past and an unknown, exciting future, about to take our first faltering steps toward it.

Watching Barack Obama and his wife, with their children, vote early this morning sent an exciting thrill through me. It seemed so surreal that this unassuming jovial man, looking so ordinary and approachable, could wake up tomorrow morning as America's President-Elect! I did my last phone bank stint last night, making calls to Ohio and Nevada to give information on polling locations and getting a ride to vote. Wishing voters the greatest day and thanking everyone at HQ for their magnificent hospitality in the week I had been there. Today I wanted to do something different, to see a bit of the city, to talk to ordinary people who are voting, to see a polling station (and a queue!) for myself and then head to Grant Park tonight where I hope to have the time of my life!!

But before all that, I had to air something which was just awesome. I got this in my email this morning from a fellow Obama supporter and thought it was so poignant, so moving and simply so thought-provoking, I had to share it on Newsvine. There will be lots of stories around this historic day, but I don't think that many will come any better than this one. Well done, sir!

"I am so humbled by the experience. I got up early, had set the alarm and awoke before it chimed. My polling place, where I have voted for the last 2 presidential elections is close so it was a casual jaunt. The weather was mild and breezy with a star filled sky. I approached the community center with an optimism that can only be exampled with that of a newly wed, or a new parent - hope eternal, brimmed with enthusiasm.

The custodian arrived a short time later than I to open the building, annexed to the church and greeted me with a casual but jovial jest about the "Early bird and the worm". I was ever proud. I trooped in, Starbucks coffee mug in hand and went to the obligatory post by the door which I knew would be opening soon to all of those who came to change to course of this country.

Being the first in line was not my intention but a privilege. As others came in, a flow which erupted into a steady stream, sprouted gleeful conversations. Friendships sprang up, non chastising or being the inquisitor of any other. It was an act of unheralded civility. We watched as the election judges posted sample ballots, cautionary signs and other useful voter information, Toilet locations was important. People hastened to deactivate cell phones.

As the announcement came that, "The polls are now open" I and the assembled marched in to the A - Z table and proudly said our names, confident that our registrations were valid. The, revelation, "Here you are" was as if a child had been born. I proudly signed my name and went to the next table for further instructions. It was commendable that they gave information to completely fill in the ovals. It would be a shame to have someone's ballot voided for a simple documentation error. The ballot I cast here in Minnesota was clear, but I've heard some other states and locations have confusing ballots. I hope that is corrected in the future. We do not need anyone making an error because of misunderstanding the ballot. I know I would be beside myself!

Opening the ballot and seeing the names, with the nominees for president atop the list was exhilarating. Filling in the oval for senator Barack Obama brought a welling up in my body which I had not anticipated. I am absolutely sure that that feeling was emulated by thousands, if not millions across this nation. I was so proud. I only wish my Grandmother, my Grandfather and my Parents had been able to see this day. But I know, I know they are looking down with utter satisfaction. All of their hard work has paid off.

Tomorrow, November 5, 2008 we will wake up in the morning of a brand new era in our nation, that of an American, an American citizen from a background far removed from that which we previously had been presented with as the newly elected president of the United States. A new confidence, a new realization, a new sense of belonging will envelop the nation, if not the world. Yes, the whole world IS watching!

We should all be forever grateful for living in this great nation and as citizens, ever so proud."
Kenneth Thomas

Wow! Is all I can say at such an experience and with much, much envy!

Reading comments written by minorities from all over the world, reacting to Barack Obama's glorious election to the US presidency (one Brazilian and one African wishing they could come to America to bask in the glory), reminded me of an article I wrote prophetically last November. I thought it was time to refer to it again here because its resonance to what has just happened cannot be overstated.

In The Real Value of Barack Obama's Presidential Bid I argued that he would have tremendous impact on minorities worldwide because his success would also signal the possibility of their success too, especially Black males. It would raise their self esteem and be inspirational to teenagers struggling to find their form, their purpose and their identity.

Part of my comment stated then:

Starved of Black role models, many people despair of ever being reflected significantly while clinging to people like Oprah Winfrey and Oscar winners Denzel Washington and Halle Berry for some reflected glory. Minorities everywhere live vicariously through role models because of the absence of homegrown heroes, and Blacks in the UK are no different. In fact, when Colin Powell first became a general, one letter writer to the Voice newspaper noted drily that, "Had General Powell been in Britain he would have been Corporal Powell!"

And...
You can tell a lot about the government of a country in how they seek to unite the people and be representative of them. If the people associating with Britain's government and monarchy are anything to go by, the is an all-White country! You will not see a Black person of substance or expertise around them in Britain, unless it is a bodyguard! Yet the Queen is the head of a multicultural Commonwealth and loves to boast about that when she visits them. Obviously charity does not reach as far as our home! This is very disappointing to me because, with Britain's history, and the way it trumpets regularly about justice and fairness, one would have thought it would have led the field in recognising diversity and its own multicultural population in more visible and tangible ways. As a staunch Briton, who loves this country, I find that so sad.

But what I told ABC news recently and, missed out in that article, was the way Barack's awesome achievement would actually change the perception of how Whites view their Black peers.

Already in Britain, within a day of his election, White politicians there were fighting to own the concept of 'change', newspapers (the Guardian) have found mixed race people to feature when they hardly ever cover anyone Black in their stories, the bookmakers have the favourite to replace David Tennant as 'Dr Who' to be a Black actor and Daniel Craig (007) is now suggesting that the next Bond should be Black! My, oh, my...Oh to be suddenly fashionable and hot! Once again, being outdone by America, we Britons have suddenly caught the chill of envy and embarrassment by beginning the awkward process of self-examination.

The Bond suggestion is terribly sad only because it was mooted before Daniel Craig himself was chosen, but producers and casting directors thought the public weren't quite ready for a Black Bond. How did they know that?

Suddenly the public are ready? Really? I wonder why!

Those who have always been represented in the highest offices, who have always been visible in senior positions, who have always enjoyed unending power and whose control is reflected in every area of life, can afford to be cynical of Barack's achievement or might tend to underplay its significance. But his being president of America will impact gradually on how minorities are perceived right across the world. Countries will look at their current leaders and they'll be found wanting. However, the greatest change will be in how Americans see themselves and what is possible. For the very first time, the old cliche of anyone being able to make it in America will be genuine.

As this Navy veteran donor reinforced, when he sent his $5 to Barrack last year. It was his first ever donation and his daughter inspired him to send the money:

He said, "Being an African American male, to have that positive role model in Senator Obama, it's given me so much hope. To be able to look at my daughter one day and tell her, 'You can be anything you want in the world' ... In the past I might have said, 'You could be anything you want to be. But president? No' ... But now, he's given me that light. Now, I can tell her, 'You really can be anything you want in the world.'"

That's the true value of President Obama. The power of everyone to dream of being the greatest, not just those of a particular colour or gender.

I couldn't believe it when this link was sent to me. And I thought my eyes were deceiving me, but they weren't. There is a brand new website for Barack Obama and Joe Biden called "Change.Gov: The Office of the President -Elect". Goodness gracious! If one doubted the power of this man, and the Internet, to achieve what he wants, this says it all. Two days into being elected and a public working office is already on the ground, up and running with full speed!

It is very clear that whether he won or not, his team had been busily working on his new transitional website, and what a thrill it must give him to know that it was not in vain and to see that he is the President-Elect. You have to admire this man who is streets ahead of his opponents at working with technology and using it to deliver what he wants.

The headline says:
"Today we begin in earnest the work of making sure that the world we leave our children is just a little bit better than the one we inhabit today!"
President-Elect Barack Obama

Jobs in the new Administration
In the style of the open and honest government he promised at Grant Park, the site has five distinct headings: Upcoming Events (of which the only one is The Inauguration proudly displayed for January 20th; The Agenda, which boasts subheadings like Revitalising the Economy, Ending the War with Iraq and Providing Health Care For All; Your Administration and Transition Directory. He also wants to hear your 'American Story', what happened to you in the campaign and on election day.

Even more surprising, you can apply for a non-career job online right there on the site. There is a brief form to fill in which is described as the 'quickest route' to getting a response, and you don't have to be an American either. For career positions, there is a more detailed route through Personnel. This is a most impressive website, heralding a whole new style of government, which has the potential to be truly inclusive and exciting.

This man just keeps surprising us with his deep self-belief, foreward thinking and keenness to get on with the job, using the best tools and people at his disposal - the mark of a true leader and one who clearly knows where he's going.

My new friend Tammy sent the pictures that she took (including the two above) and I have to say that even her little camera revealed the awesome scale of that memorable night which I can never forget. I have never been in a crowd so large in my life as I have a fear of being among too many people. After a certain number, like my fear of heights, I begin to get distressed. Yet on this particular night, being hemmed in by thousands (125,000 or more to be precise!) it was the most wonderful experience I can recall in a long time. Overcoming my fears to just enjoy the moment: YES, I CAN! and YES I DID!

I had so many emails from everywhere on the night, full of joy, tears and passionate outpourings, I thought many of them should be recorded for posterity. Here is my meagre compilation to highlight some very moving ones.

Enjoy!

Quotes of the Election

(Email sent to his supporters just before Barack went to Grant Park! What a touching gesture at the greatest moment of his life, to remember those who helped to get him there! I am sure John McCain didn't write such an email. I was so shocked to see it in my mailbox the next day. Even though I knew it went to over 3 million supporters I felt it was written only to me. Amazing power of the Internet.)

Thank you,
Barack
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Friends,

Who among us is not at a loss for words? Tears pour out. Tears of joy. Tears of relief. A stunning, whopping landslide of hope in a time of deep despair.

In a nation that was founded on genocide and then built on the backs of slaves, it was an unexpected moment, shocking in its simplicity: Barack Obama, a good man, a black man, said he would bring change to Washington, and the majority of the country liked that idea. The racists were present throughout the campaign and in the voting booth. But they are no longer the majority, and we will see their flame of hate fizzle out in our lifetime....

But today we celebrate this triumph of decency over personal attack, of peace over war, of intelligence over a belief that Adam and Eve rode around on dinosaurs just 6,000 years ago. What will it be like to have a smart president? Science, banished for eight years, will return. Imagine supporting our country's greatest minds as they seek to cure illness, discover new forms of energy, and work to save the planet. I know, pinch me.
Michael Moore (Filmaker)
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Whenever the camera switched to us in Grant Park, we jumped around hollering like crazy people, even though there was no chance anyone would recognize us in that crowd. We still wanted to world to know that Chicago was having the biggest party in the country. Any doubts about Obama winning were obliterated by this time, and we could see the landslide coming, We knew if was only a matter of time....

Striding on the stage came the president-elect. Oh my goodness, could we actually be saying those words? President-elect Obama? Obama spoke so eloquently, so rapturously, that I cannot remember the words. I only remember the chills going down my back. Not only did he inspire me about the nation, he inspired me about my own life. Never have I ever felt so passionately about candidate as I have about this man.
Lynn Voedisch
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I feel like I have gained not only a historical president, but a second family in the people I've met volunteering for this campaign. Last night I reflected on that first canvass trip to Iowa in June of '07, all of our community service, the thousands of doors knocked, and the feeling of possibility I felt on the floor of the convention in Denver.

I also remembered when I met President-elect Obama in Iowa last December and told him about everything our group was doing. He said with a smile, "You see, that's what I'm talking about!" It's us as a community uniting regardless of age, race, beliefs, or economic levels. Uniting to make the country we all love a better place.
KellyF
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For the first time in over a year and a half I watched fox news. I felt it was appropriate to listen to John McCain give his concession speech. I then blocked it again and went to MSNBC.

For decades Americans said God Bless America and tonight, God did !

Thank you Rosa for sitting!
Thank you Martin for walking!
Thank you Barack Hussein Obama for running!
And
Thank you one and all
and to all a very very good night !
Ronald R. Bisson
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Barack, "Sit next to me."
I accepted Barack Obama's invitation to join him to change America, and he changed ME.

I am not Black; I am White I am not Atheist; I am Christian

I am not Gay, I am Straight

I am not Woman, I am Man

Black, Atheist, Gay, or Woman - American, I AM your Brother.

Barack Obama has already changed America!!!

May President Obama's family be always safe and in good health.
Rob [bob-pol]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thank you,
I AM NOT MALE BUT FEMALE
I AM NOT WHITE BUT BLACK
I AM NOT MUSLIM BUT CHRISTIAN...RIGHT WINGED
I AM NOT LIBERAL BUT CONSERVATIVE
I AM NOT CIVILIAN BUT MILITARY

I AM AMERICAN......I AM NOT INTERESTED IN WORDS OR TITLES WHICH SERVE TO DIVIDE US.....I AM AN AMERICAN

......PRAISE GOD...PRAISE GOD....PRAISE GOD

PRAY FOR OBAMA ....PRAY MUCH HIS STRENGTH IN THE LORD
Victoria Richardson
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now it is time for all of us to roll up our sleeves and make things work. Here's my idea:

I wonder if I've been changed in the night? Let me think. Was I the same when I got up this morning? I almost think I can remember feeling a little different. But if I'm not the same, the next question is 'Who in the world am I?' Ah, that's the great puzzle! Alice in Alice in Wonderland

Who are we? Have we changed or has our world changed? If the Internet and wireless communication are the Looking Glass, we are Alice. We aren't really any different, but our world is...and we cannot go back through the Looking Glass however much we may wish we could.

The Internet has changed everything including how we relate to our government and the outside world. The outside world affects us dramatically through the economy, global warming, communicable diseases, and terrorism. More than that, however, we communicate instantly with people and governments all around the world. We blog and email and videoblog and video email with people from other cultures and share views on issues that are often quite different from our own government as well as theirs....

Fortunately, we are about to elect a candidate who gets it. Barack Obama has run a race like no other in history and he will be a president like no other in history. No campaign in history has been so closely tied to the grassroots and this has been achieved by embracing the Internet. His presidency promises to do the same thing for our country.
SaulPaulus
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"This was an exercise in American democracy of which Americans across the political spectrum are justifiably proud," she said.

"As an African-American, I'm especially proud," said Rice, her eyes glistening with emotion, "because this is a country that's been through a long journey, in terms of overcoming wounds and making race" less of a factor in life. "That work is not done, but yesterday was obviously an extraordinary step forward.
Condoleeza Rice
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Your victory has demonstrated that no person anywhere in the world should not dare to dream of wanting to change the world for a better place."
South Africa's first black president, Nelson Mandela, congratulating Obama.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Americans have struck a deadly blow to racism all over the world. Americans have regained themselves and have regained the American dream. The picture of the U.S. that was disfigured by the Republicans in the past eight years fell from the wall today. The picture of the America we had in our minds has taken its place." Prominent Saudi columnist Dawood al-Shirian
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"This is the fall of the Berlin Wall times ten. America is rebecoming a New World. ... On this morning, we all want to be American so we can take a bite of this dream unfolding before our eyes."
Rama Yade, France's black junior minister for human rights

Gosh! Has 10 days finished so quickly already? Unbelievable. I thought I would have have tons of time on my hands to do all the stuff I planned from home. Not a hope! It has just been like a whirlwind trip instead of the leisurely one I had in mind. Yesterday for the first time it rained really heavily so I couldn't walk around and take pictures as I wanted. In fact, the wind trashed my puny little umbrella I brought from the UK. So I spent the afternoon writing and chatting on the phone instead. But there are lots of glorious memories to take back with me. - Like the warm hospitality of the people of Chicago which came in very handy when I felt cold;
- The experience of getting out the vote on the phones for the Obama campaign;
- The fascinating first hotel I stayed in and the great train rides I had;
- The amazingly huge buildings which just leave me in awe and wonder;
- The excitement of election day;
- The sheer incredibility of the Grant Park experience;
- Going into Macy's and coming out with the most fantastic luggage set for the cheapest price I could imagine!
- Walking down Wacker Drive with all the beautiful lights and the great river view;
- Staying close to Michigan Avenue and exploring many aspects of this famed 'Magnificent Mile'
- There are so many fun things to do, there's never a dull moment.

I have some contrasts to take back with me too:

* Everything is so BIG in Chicago. Nothing seems to be small like the UK. Even the coffee bags for one cup are enormous!

* Kentucky Fried ain't what it used to be. Oh, how the mighty has fallen. Not many outlets anymore and the chicken tastes awful. Never thought ours could taste better than the one in America. :o(

* One can pick up a great bargain in some places, like the beautiful cashmere poncho I could not have afforded in the UK!

* The city's parking is astronomical in price. In the UK where I live we spend no more than $2 for a whole hour's parking. Here it is considered a bargain to pay $5 for 20 minutes! I could never have afforded to run a car here.

* I love the 24 hour food places that are open. Nice to see many places trading until 7pm too. Everything closes at 5 or 5.30 pm in Britain.

* The ease with which anyone can use their laptops everywhere they go. We are nowhere near that yet!

This is a visit I will never forget. I lost a priceless bracelet, given to me as a present five years ago, which came off my hand unexpectedly. I was gutted. But even that couldn't dim my enjoyment of this great city. I learnt so much I could not have learnt just being at my computer. I have been most blessed in making some new friends and now I head for my plane later this evening to go home. It will be nice to to be back among familiar things and people.

It has been one hell of a journey but I am most thankful to have experienced it and would not have missed it for the world :o)