Today is the day I have been waiting for for a long time. I can't quite say how long. Obviously most of us can safely say, "I am not satisfied!" when it comes to the way our government in the U.S. has been run over the last eight years, and probably longer. I'm not telling you anything you don't know here, and it goes without saying that we are in a bad way right now. And in elections past, I have barely bothered to vote. I just felt as though it didn't really matter what I wanted, or what I felt would be best for my country, because whatever or whoever it was that I was voting for would not be supported by the majority of voters, or would be struck down by some phantom power. But yesterday, my faith in our democratic process was renewed.
I admit this with a measure of embarrassment, which I can't really explain. I suppose it's my fear of commitment coming to haunt me. I always feel like there is some kind of doom lurking around the corner. Maybe because I have been let down so many times by our leaders in the past. But for some reason I believe in Barack Obama. It's inexplicable, really. I know he has a good voting record. I know he is educated and intelligent. I know he has good ideas. I know he has led a wholesome family life. I know he is an eloquent speaker. But the mystery is the hope that he inspires in people. Part of it has to be the fact that he is black, and it makes me think of what the future could hold for high level politicians and leaders in our country- third party candidates, agnostics and other religions beyond Christianity, women, gays, etc. But there is no doubt that he has captured my hope and he did so before he ever became a viable candidate.
I remember when I first took notice of him. I was listening to KPBS in my car on a Saturday, about a year and a half ago. The host of the show was talking to a guy named Nicholas Lovelady who was a reporter for some newspaper in Illinois. The reporter was telling a story about an event he was reporting on where Obama was giving a speech about some new legislation. I was listening to this story right about when the race for the candidacy had started, and no one really new Obama yet. Nicholas was sitting next to a young lady who he had been trying to holler at for a couple months and had just worked up the nerve to talk to. The young reporter stood up to ask a question.
“Wait a minute son, this is for professional media only,” Obama said to him.
“What do you mean? I work for the local paper,” said Nicholas.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I thought you were a college student. You have such a baby face,” he said with a grin.
Everyone in the audience turns around to look at Nicholas and laugh. Including his young lady friend. Oooooh. That smarts, right? The dude was so pissed, that his paper printed a call for Obama to publicly apologize. Funny, but true. I am assuming it was a joke, but they did it. So Barack calls this kid. They had a recording of their conversation which they played on the air.
Obama: This is Barack Obama.
Lovelady: Hey, how’s it going?
Obama: Man, I’m calling to publicly apologize for messing up your game. I read that, I felt terrible, I didn’t know there were any ladies around. And I just want to let you know, that I'm deeply sorry.
When I heard that story, I thought to myself, "Now, here is a real motherfucker, man. This is a politician who is willing to call a regular guy up to apologize for cock-blocking him. That is fucking awesome." I know it's sort of a mundane thing, but to me it is a good measure of a man. I know that Obama sounded a little dickheaded in how he addressed this Nicholas character, but he acknowledged his mistake and apologized. Great, just great.
And so I followed him throughout his heated race with Hillary as his campaign was forged. He won the candidacy, and I thought he might be able to do this, but maybe America is still too stupid. Guess what? We aren't. Thank you, my country. Maybe now I won't have to go to my other country, Australia, to see a dentist. We are excited and ready for change. Let's make it happen.
And another thing; Obama, stop making me cry. I feel like a wuss over here. If I have to see that image of Jesse Jackson weeping with joy one more time I'm gonna... probably just well up with tears again. What do you want from me? Jeez.
