8pm, 11.4.08

I am very proud to be an American today…everyday for that matter.
I am actually quite upset by those that are saying, "for the first time in my life I am proud to be an American". I am blessed with the freedom that many nations long for. I am proud of my grandfather who served in WWII. I will always hold his stories near to my heart of how he traveled through the most dangerous parts of Europe and served and protected and how he met Winston Churchill and had a laugh with him. When I think about my grandfather I wonder if we would share the same political views. Regards of our views I know that we would love and respect each other no matter what. He encouraged me to pursue higher education and to seek God in all things. Those are the most important things to me.

This election season has been bittersweet for me. I have seen the good and the ugly sides of people. Two years ago I got a TIME magazine in the mail that had a young African American named Barack Obama on the cover and the headline said, "Why Barack Obama could be the next President". I thought to myself, "no way". Little did I know it was the beginning of the most exciting campaign season of all time. I was a two time GWB voter and was a fan of the old "Maverick", John McCain but I was looking for a progressive America and I was supporting Obama all the way as I learned more of him. I was glad to see the Republicans nominate McCain and shoot down Romney (who most of my Conservative friends happened to be supporting). I would have cried had Hilary won the Dem nomination. There was so much feuding during the primary. Politics are like a bad drug sometimes because people just start trippin'. I enjoyed the debate and I'm glad the man that came out on top was Obama. I cried…tears of joy. I was so emotionally invested in this election for the last two years that I couldn't hold back tears. I saw Jesse Jackson crying and I started crying. The footage of the crowds gathered in every city and outside of the white house was so emotional. It was like nothing I have witnessed in my life. It was a victory not for Democrats but for America. All this talk about CHANGE and now we will need some results. Obama is inheriting a busted yet still prideful America and I am very optimistic about the next four years.

There have been so many bad events that we associate with days/times in our lives. When asked where I was at 8pm on 11.4.2008 I will remember that I was at Reed College with my friends when the hammer that is West Coast came down and ended the McCain campaign and brought Obama the victory. I am proud of America, Obama, McCain and everyone who stood in a ridiculous line to vote.

8pm, 11.4.08