obama it is
Being in an African American community down here in New Orleans today, election day, is pretty exciting. Folks are hopeful. They care about this election. “for the first time in history we can make history,” a man selling Obama t shirts said to me.
“What if he doesn’t win, or they try to steal it from him?” I asked.
“It’s in God’s hands. If Obama is supposed to win no man can take that away from him. God will make it happen to show there is a God.”
It might not be the tightest argument. It meant something to me. Marcus was his name he had white hairs in his mustache. He told me when he was young he didnt believe in God, he only believed he could pull his 9 faster than the other guy and that made him God. Eventually prison drugs and getting shot in the head changed his mind about all that.
Marcus with some younger guys, standing in fromt of the corner store. They played me tracks from their album, raps about Obama being president. It struck me then just how much an icon could give people.
I think it’s great that so many people are inspired by what took place yesterday. I’ve heard some heartfelt interviews on the radio today, heavy stuff. This is a big deal.
So now what? “for the first time in history we can make history,†you did it. And it was really important, too. If not now, when? How can we wait for a ‘better time’ to come along to make this happen. That time might never come. Millions of black people are uplifted by this. Millions of white folks feel less guilty. This is all good.
But, for me, the question remains “what now?” In my opinion, the policies that Obama supports only serve to suppress his followers from making the sort of grand leaps he made to achieve what he has. Raising the minimum wage and implementing legislature to allow unions to bully workers doesn’t uplift society. It will cost the US jobs. Implementing a shitty government healthcare system does the same thing. If you’re knee deep in horseshit, Obama won’t let you out, he’ll just help you roll up your pant legs.
I’m not at all bitter about the election. I’m being honest when I say that the inspiration is great. When have you ever seen such excitement after an election? I’m just worried that most voters thought about election night and not the 4 years after it.
Comment by Lyle_s — November 5, 2008 @ 1:45 pm
give the moment it’s due. reality isn’t going anywhere.
Comment by beulabelle — November 5, 2008 @ 3:39 pm