jazzsequence

history

in 2000, i couldn’t believe that anyone would possibly vote for an idiot like g.w.  determined that my vote wouldn’t make a difference in the election anyway, since there was no chance gore would lose, i gave my vote to the green party in an attempt to help them get 3% of the vote and a real shot at the presidential election in 2004.  both plans failed.

in 2004, it was so glaringly obvious that kerry was the better choice, and i felt like people obviously wanted a change, i didn’t think it was possible that the country would vote w. in for a second term.

this year, i was afraid that even though obama was the best candidate — and not just the lesser of two evils, but a man who would stand as a president for the people rather than in spite of the people — some unknown factor would cause the vote to go wildly in the other direction.  even the “maverick” (read: insane) tactics mccain used in selecting an inexperienced hockey mom from alaska as his running mate — so obviously a desperate cry for help — could have swayed the impetus toward him.

i watched the blogosphere and the twittersphere refreshing msnbc.com and cnn.com for updates on the polls obsessively, refusing to get my hopes up in case something went horribly wrong.

today, i wake up, and i can breathe easy — like a weight has been lifted.  for the first time in my life, i can be proud to be an american.  and i’m proud to live in the age of the first black president.  the age of change.

history starts now.

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Chris Reynolds

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2 responses to “history”

  1. erin Avatar
    erin

    I am now going to hijack your blog.

    I'm proud too, to be a part of a country where the majority elected a black man who is opinionated, well-educated and smart, who has new ideas about how to deal with old problems.

    I have faith that in my lifetime we will elect a woman as president. One who is chosen for her intelligence, experience and ability to lead and inspire us. I am ill at the thought that any woman who is popular based on her physical attractiveness, her charm and her enthusiasm will make it there first and embarrass America as well as further stereotype the entire female population of the U.S. as accessories, not valuable minds in Washington, in homes, in businesses, everywhere.

    I believe that we as a people have a long way to go to find enough acceptance of women who are strong, opinionated and have the toughness to run America. Every woman I know who possesses these qualities is labeled a bitch and scoffed at because people are afraid of women with that much confidence, with that much determination and voice. We need to do better. The women out there who dumb themselves down to fit in, to make it easier on others need to stop. The women who don't believe in themselves because no one else ever expressed confidence in them need to step up and try out their voices. And most importantly parents need to start looking hard at their sons and daughters and teaching them to believe in themselves. To achieve what is important to them. We need to teach our sons to take women seriously, as people. By embracing women and what are considered feminine qualities such as empathy, emotional expression and an awareness of what is going on inside oneself, men will be more flexible, more proud of who they are.

    We need to teach our daughters to dream of being a president more and a princess less. We need to teach our daughters to speak up when they see things differently. To be able to express themselves without apologies and with confidence. To do something other than accept unfair treatment with the sentiment that "That's just the way it is."

    Let's move toward a country where our daughters are not just entertainment or behind the scenes. Let's not tether our sons to behaviors that cripple them emotionally and trap them in a narrow, distasteful role filled with violent, out-of-control rage and shame for their inability to avoid it. Let's become a place where we are people first and not just puppets controlled by the same storylines we see played out on television every hour.

    Reply
  2. erin Avatar
    erin

    I am now going to hijack your blog.

    I’m proud too, to be a part of a country where the majority elected a black man who is opinionated, well-educated and smart, who has new ideas about how to deal with old problems.

    I have faith that in my lifetime we will elect a woman as president. One who is chosen for her intelligence, experience and ability to lead and inspire us. I am ill at the thought that any woman who is popular based on her physical attractiveness, her charm and her enthusiasm will make it there first and embarrass America as well as further stereotype the entire female population of the U.S. as accessories, not valuable minds in Washington, in homes, in businesses, everywhere.

    I believe that we as a people have a long way to go to find enough acceptance of women who are strong, opinionated and have the toughness to run America. Every woman I know who possesses these qualities is labeled a bitch and scoffed at because people are afraid of women with that much confidence, with that much determination and voice. We need to do better. The women out there who dumb themselves down to fit in, to make it easier on others need to stop. The women who don’t believe in themselves because no one else ever expressed confidence in them need to step up and try out their voices. And most importantly parents need to start looking hard at their sons and daughters and teaching them to believe in themselves. To achieve what is important to them. We need to teach our sons to take women seriously, as people. By embracing women and what are considered feminine qualities such as empathy, emotional expression and an awareness of what is going on inside oneself, men will be more flexible, more proud of who they are.

    We need to teach our daughters to dream of being a president more and a princess less. We need to teach our daughters to speak up when they see things differently. To be able to express themselves without apologies and with confidence. To do something other than accept unfair treatment with the sentiment that “That’s just the way it is.”

    Let’s move toward a country where our daughters are not just entertainment or behind the scenes. Let’s not tether our sons to behaviors that cripple them emotionally and trap them in a narrow, distasteful role filled with violent, out-of-control rage and shame for their inability to avoid it. Let’s become a place where we are people first and not just puppets controlled by the same storylines we see played out on television every hour.

    Reply

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