Some Post Election Thoughts, Part 1

I just have to say that tuesday night was really a night to remember and have not experienced much like it in my life.  I'm well aware of the limitations of an Obama presidency, but there is no denying his election marked an historic moment in U.S. history.  In a nation built on slavery and Jim Crow and that's had a post-civil rights era that's seen the more dramatic examples of "silent majorities", anti-busing riots, Hurricane Katrina's, Jena's, and Sarah Palin audiences, we elected our first African American president.  Now, racism is far from over, but what a devastating blow to it!  I had to pinch myself.  

One of the more amazing events of the night are the mass, spontaneous celebrations that followed.  Again - I have never witnessed anything like it in my life.  The excitement over this historic election and the end of the Reagan era was truly inspiring.  Here in Santa Cruz, massive amounts of folks were celebrating in the streets with a constant parade of cars driving down Pacific Ave, honking and cheering.  I really felt like I was part of history, and that we are (hopefully) about to embark on an exciting time of progressive political engagement in America.  If this is not a mandate for far-reaching change, I don't know what is, and I will speak more to this later but I must get ready for to go to my horror film class.

Also, unfortunately, the assholes in Ca came out in droves and passed prop 8 - but I hear there's still a fight ahead so *fingers crossed* and I'm ready to do my part to revoke this discriminatory policy.  Seriously, who would vote for this shit? So let down.

Better days to come!

in solidarity,

-Steve