![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Yes, we can!
Nov. 5th, 2008 12:23 pmI have to say that for the first time in a very long time, I'm pretty proud of my country. I have felt alienated from my government the last eight years. It felt like a drunk uncle took over the wheel of our national car. Last night however, I feel like the country came to its senses. Which is not to say I wasn't disappointed in a few races, but I can't stop smiling about the fact that a black man with a "strange vaguely Muslim sounding" name actually won the presidency of this United States. I never in my lifetime thought it would happen. We done good people!
As I read through my friends list this morning, I see some pretty common sentiments. Happiness at Mr. Barack Obama becoming president and some devastating disappointment in the various gay-rights propositions around the country. Here in California it was Prop. 8. People are understandably very discouraged. It's hard to see how we have progressed in our views of race, but still seem mired in homophobia. I see many people throwing up their arms in disgust and defeat. I am very disappointed myself.
What I need to remember is that the struggle for civil rights has never been a direct one. We take a few steps forward and then get pushed back a couple. We struggled forward again and keep pushing until we get equality. It's a long process but history has shown me in my lifetime that change happens eventually. We made a step forward in electing Barack Obama to the presidency of the United States of America. We've been knocked down for a while by the results of Prop 8 and its ilk. But we are a stubborn people. I admire that in my fellow civil rights advocates. We are down now, but we will pick ourselves up again and work for what is right. I have no doubt that eventually we will succeed. This is a setback and it hurts, but we will do what we always do. Get back up and start working again.
As I read through my friends list this morning, I see some pretty common sentiments. Happiness at Mr. Barack Obama becoming president and some devastating disappointment in the various gay-rights propositions around the country. Here in California it was Prop. 8. People are understandably very discouraged. It's hard to see how we have progressed in our views of race, but still seem mired in homophobia. I see many people throwing up their arms in disgust and defeat. I am very disappointed myself.
What I need to remember is that the struggle for civil rights has never been a direct one. We take a few steps forward and then get pushed back a couple. We struggled forward again and keep pushing until we get equality. It's a long process but history has shown me in my lifetime that change happens eventually. We made a step forward in electing Barack Obama to the presidency of the United States of America. We've been knocked down for a while by the results of Prop 8 and its ilk. But we are a stubborn people. I admire that in my fellow civil rights advocates. We are down now, but we will pick ourselves up again and work for what is right. I have no doubt that eventually we will succeed. This is a setback and it hurts, but we will do what we always do. Get back up and start working again.
