Oh, America

[selenak]

I just woke up, and am damn near crying with happiness and relief. You know what makes me happiest, even more than the result itself? The fact so many people voted. When I went to bed, the news reporters said two thirds of the population. Two thirds. As opposed to not even half during the last election. This is democracy. This is genuine wish for change, for renewal, this is the opposite of indifference and apathy and an "ah well, my vote doesn't count anyway" phlegatism. This is Americans being citizens, and fighting for their rights by exerting them.

This is the America I fell in love with so long ago.

*is ridiculously happy and misty-eyed early in the morning*

Comments

[likeadeuce.livejournal.com]

I'm so happy!

[selenak.livejournal.com]

*grabs you virtually and dances with you*

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

*cheers*

Yay for all of us!

[selenak.livejournal.com]

*sings "Happy Days Are Here Again", morning quietness be damned*

[acaciah.livejournal.com]

YES WE CAN! YES WE DID!!!11!

*wipes tears*

[selenak.livejournal.com]

[camkin.livejournal.com]

even though i had to stand in line for 2 hours to vote and some of it in the rain, nothing was going to discourage me from voting. i was so proud to see so many people of color and young people out there voting. it's time they realize that their votes count too. for the first time in a long time, i'm proud of my country.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

And you can be. This is really "for the people, and through the people". This is really "We The People", and we observers from abroad can believe it without a doubt.

[greenpear.livejournal.com]

I am extremely happy! I feared for the entire world if McCain had been elected...

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Me too. Not another administration with the kind of policies we've seen in the last eight years. Not when both the world and the US are in such a bad state. I don't expect Obama to change everything overnight, but I do believe he'll try with the world, not against it, and that he'll manage to fulfill at least some of the campaign promises. Best of all, though, really: there is not a shred of doubt about this election. The American people have spoken. And proved they want change. That they don't want more of the same.

*sings as is still ridiculously happy*

[lilacsigil.livejournal.com]

I'm so proud of all those Americans who overcame everything from apathy to poor administration to lies to get out and make a difference. Until this election, I don't think I really appreciated how easy it is for me (in a country with compulsory voting) to get informed and get my vote in. I really hope this continues - like after September 11th, Obama has a big reservoir of international goodwill, and I trust he won't squander it.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Yes, exactly that. I don't expect miracles, and like he said in his acceptance speech, of course there will be some failures along the way. But I do expect genuine change in some areas, and I believe this will happen.

And you know - it's so easy to get cynical about the whole American Dream concept, especially after eight years of Bush talk and Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib. But now there is an American president elect who is the son of an immigrant, black in a country where segregation is within living memory of many citizens, who was voted for by people of all races. And that's wonderful.

[lizamanynames.livejournal.com]

America: they finally had thier Neville Longbottom moment.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

YES THEY DID.

[ladyaeryn.livejournal.com]

I was crying, not long ago. I don't cry over politics, but I was nearly bawling.

Obama's not God, or a Saint - but his election does represent the embodiment of a trend I truly hope is finally taking shape in this country: people standing up and getting involved, passionate about making the country a better place, whatever that entails.

*goes back to weeping*

[selenak.livejournal.com]

*weeps with you, for the same reasons, and sings, badly*

[wemblee.livejournal.com]

re: turnout

Holy shit. I'm actually proud of my country. For the first time in... ever.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

And you can be. You really can be. *is so awed by Americans*

[re-weird.livejournal.com]

YES, YES WE CAN

*cannot be coherent right now*

I mean, there were random people on the streets cheering!

[selenak.livejournal.com]

All over the world! All over the world! But you were the ones who did it! YOU COULD YOU DID YOU CAN!

[butterflykiki.livejournal.com]

*twirls by and hugs you for caring and hanging in there and omg!*

105 million people voted! At the very least!!!!!!!!!

[selenak.livejournal.com]

*twirls with you in virtual fashion and sings "Happy days are here again"*

I'm so in awe of Americans right now. And so happy.

[estepheia.livejournal.com]

Awesome!
*is ridiculously happy and misty-eyed as well*

[selenak.livejournal.com]

What a thing to wake up to. (Bis auf einen der ARD-Korrespondenten, der doch tatsächlich sagte "er benimmt sich nicht wie ein Schwarzer" - aber selbst diese Idiotie hat mir die Freude nicht verderben können.)

*is still cheering*

[faroutgal.livejournal.com]

My daughter came in with me in the voting booth and I told her to go ahead and vote for her hero. She was so nervous that she would press the wrong button.

Very exciting moment....It was as if a long dreadful war has finally ended.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

You must be so proud. And you deserve to be.

*is still glowing in transatlantic happiness, relief and admiration*

[violaswamp.livejournal.com]

I'm glad we didn't let the rest of the world down yet another time. :D

[selenak.livejournal.com]

I remember 2004, and how we woke up in stunned disbelief then, of the not good kind. What a contrast! But really, it's the way it was achieved, because during recent elections over here (in Germany, I mean; I don't have the numbers for other countries ready), the percentage of voters was far lower (depressingly so). Which is why we can look up to you right now, and feel admiration as well as relief.

[rivrea.livejournal.com]

What you said.

The voter turnout at the polls just blows my mind: Government for the people, by the people and of the people indeed.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

It's been such a long time, not just in the US - looks at own elections - that such a huge percentage of a population cared and did something about it. YES THEY DID!

[ion-bond.livejournal.com]

Thank you!!

*sniffle*

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Never was your icon more appropriate. :) I like to think they're both immensely proud in the hereafter. And then of course they start to debate just what Obama should say in his inauguration address!

[merrymaia.livejournal.com]

*Hugs you*

[selenak.livejournal.com]

*hugs back* It's been 24 hours now, and I'm still immensly happy and awed.