I haven't been shy about my political leanings on this blog, and happy doesn't begin to describe my feelings about Tuesday's election. I have heard from many that they never thought they would see an African American elected in their lifetime. They are proud of America, and they are proud to be Americans.
My house was a staging location for the Barack Obama campaign. Beginning Saturday morning and ending around 10:00 election night, we had about 100 people through our doors working together to get out the vote, making calls, canvassing and taking part in democracy. It was beautiful.
Dennis Kurlass, owner of River Bank Cafe in Hamilton, OH, solidified what this election was all about. He received a call from the Obama campaign that an older gentleman needed help voting. He was blind and had no form of identification, and he desperately wanted to vote. Dennis picked him up at his house, drove him to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to have an identification card made and drove him to the polls. Once there, Dennis went into the booth with the gentleman, read the choices to him and placed his finger on the button of his choice allowing the blind man to push the button. Dennis relayed this story to me through tears of pride -- in himself and in our country.
This election wasn't momumental because we elected an African American. It was monumental because people who had never been politically active before felt enoughh passion for their country to sacrifice their time and homes to become involved. The felt a sense of duty to become involved in democracy. They realized that their voice could be heard, and they worked tirelessly to ensure that it happened.
I am so proud of what we accomplished on Tuesday. I am proud of my new friends. I am proud of our country. Mostly, I am proud and in awe of the dedication that people showed to organize and stage a revolution. A revolution where we loudly and clearly stated that we are tired of the way things have been going. We believe we can be a better country. We believe we can and should provide health care to people who can't afford it. We believe that opportunities await us. We believe that good things are ahead. We believe that our government is accountable to the people. We believe that community is stronger than isolation.
Tough times are ahead, and Barack Obama has his work cut out for him. He doesn't have to go it alone, though, because he has created a community of supporters that will work with and for him. We who have worked so hard for the Obama campaign realized during the past months and years that our voice is loud. We own this country. He is accountable to us. And we are energized, strong and willing to chip in and make our country, and world, a better place.
"When I was young and full of grace and spirited--a rattlesnake.
When I was young and fever fell My spirit, I will not tell
You’re on your honor not to tell
I believe in coyotes and time as an abstract
Explain the change, the difference between
What you want and what you need, there’s the key,
Your adventure for today, what do you do Between the horns of the day?"
Musings of Asbury 
