Bittersweet
I’m having a hard time expressing in words how I feel right now. On the one hand, the election of Barack Obama is one of the great moments in our nation’s history. As my mother said last night “Save your papers tomorrow morning to pass on to your children and grandchildren.” Obama’s landslide victory serves as a mirror-image and bookend of sorts to the last American experience that was this universal and emotionally-resonant, 9/11. The dreadful shadow of fear, confusion, and anger that has defined the last seven years has given way to a new sense of unity, optimism, and patriotism. It’s been a privilege to be a part of this moment.
With so many great things to say about this election, I can’t help but dwell on the fact that Prop. 8 has passed. The fact that this failure was in “liberal” California was a crushing blow. Through shameful propaganda and the inadvertent assistance of the mushy-mouthed Democrats who tried to straddle both sides of this issue (I’m looking at you, Barack), bigotry has been enshrined into our state constitution. Thousands of marriages are going to be nullified because a slim majority of insecure strangers want their discomfort about homosexuality to be codified into law.
It’s hard to celebrate an Obama victory with this stunning reminder that Americans can still be small and bitter and hateful and cruel.
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I agree fully. I went to bed last night filled with hope for this country and I woke up this morning to see this. The hope is gone replaced with disbelief. This reminds me of the Prop that got passed saying we couldn’t eat horse meat. Sometimes people can be so dumb.
This is close to my heart because my mother was going to get married this summer if Prop 8 was defeated. We have come so far but apparently not far enough. Hopefully she’ll be around long enough to see this injustice overturned.
Comment by Ben Macri — November 5, 2008 @ 11:52 am
The SOB’s who voted for Prop 8 are cocksuckers—and not in a good way.
Comment by Becky — November 5, 2008 @ 12:03 pm
I know! It’s tragically bittersweet. I thought that an Obama win would reinstate my faith in people’s rationale. At worst, I thought that my cynicism concerning the American people would be affirmed: McCain would win and I wouldn’t be surprised. I didn’t think that my opinion of the majority’s ability to have rational thought could be any lower until I woke up this morning and saw the results. How can people put the final touches on an American chapter in bigotry only to simultaneously begin another? It makes absolutely no logical sense and I suppose that, too, should be expected. Of course it doesn’t make sense. People are nonsensical.
Living in California for the majority of my politically concerned life, I’ve never had to feel ashamed of America because I lived in a community that I could always be proud of. Despite a tremendous victory for the American people in the election of Barrack Obama, I am, nonetheless, embarrassed at the turnout of yesterday’s election. I can no longer be proud to be part of a shining example of progressive American attitudes, California, because roughly every other person living around me think that it’s gross for two dudes to kiss.
Comment by josh — November 5, 2008 @ 12:40 pm
So, we continue the fight. If last night taught us anything it is that the barriers truly can be broken down. It is not easy, it does not come without pain. But progress and change can be achieved.
Comment by Jen — November 5, 2008 @ 12:49 pm
I am so proud of our country, yet so ashamed of California voters. I expected it to pass in the more rural counties, but Los Angeles County? What happened?
Comment by kristen — November 5, 2008 @ 5:44 pm