Thank You
I've been home all day with a massive cold since I attended a day-long rally on Sunday for, now, President-Elect Obama here in Cleveland. That day started off great- no clouds in the sky and just a bit chilly but by the time we got done waiting four hours in line and getting up to the stage area, it had turned cold and half-way thru Obama's speech, it started to rain.
But, you know, it was worth it.
I've seen him give more moving speeches on tv and you could tell he was tired and worn out but to see him in person was truly amazing. It's just really nice to have a leader you can actually look up to again and respect to do the right thing.
He's also much shorter in person, btw. Springsteen, who played before Obama took the stage, is short enough, but Obama maybe was a few inches taller if that.
Anyway...
So, last night, already dying from this cold, I sat on my couch and watched the results come in while friend after friend AIM'd or texted me for results or to supply on-going commentary. No doubt this little ritual was being repeated by millions all across the world.
No longer do we wait to discuss our thoughts around the water cooler, per se, it's all done immediately and by the time we get into work the next day and approach said water cooler, we're already on to whatever news broke five minutes ago.
My friend Eric was on the train heading home after work texting me for updates on states that were called. Brad from Chiodos was in a hotel in Seattle AIM'ng me about how great things looked. My other friend, Patti, was holed up in her apartment with her boyfriend James, both political wonks like me, nerding out with me while we sent each other links to the updated Virginia Secretary of State vote results page and analyzing a number of counties to see how much of the vote was still out.
By the time Ohio was called, she had popped her bottle of celebratory champagne she had stored away for this now-possible big moment (cuz if you knew your electoral college nerd points last night, as soon as Ohio and Virginia called, it was over.)
The rest of the night was just historical and it didn't even sink in until today while sitting around at home trying to recoup (had to miss Academy Is tonight...blah!!!) Watching videos on-line from other newscasts last night when the election was called for Obama just kept making me break down in tears.
I know I've said in the past that when the White House goes to the Democrats, it's always a bad four to eight years for punk rock (who you gonna complain about in your lyrics??) Yet, I'll gladly live thru some bad music for what you guys did for the world yesterday.
And when I say "you guys", I mean everyone 18-29, 66% of you to be exact, more of you since the election of 1976, who voted for Barack Obama yesterday.
The Election of 2008 was the year that young America took control of the country. Campaign friends of mine early on told me how the people working within the Obama campaign were under 30 years old and tech-savvy to no end whereas the Clinton people were old school politico types from DC.
Obama realizes that the world, and our nation, has changed and, as the Greatest Generation of World War 2 survivors die off, will change even faster (all of the anti-gay marriage measures being passed now will, undoubtedly, be reversed within the next decade- give it time).
Young America gets it.
Spike Lee said yesterday that there was now going to be two periods in America: BB and BA (Before Barack and After Barack.)
After Barack would represent color blindness, equality, understanding and respecting one another and that's where I think Young Americans play a major role.
The problem the McCain campaign had in its philosophy, and the Republican Party for that matter, is that they still thought it was 1958. There always has to be some group to hate, to pick on and to demean. That's not what Young America is about and that's why the GOP lost this election.
Readers of AP are a lot more understanding, more open-minded, more accepting than their parents, I can pretty much guarantee.
And I can also guarantee that their technical prowess will advance the world in ways unimagined as they get older and into positions of power. Author Don Tapscott was on NPR the other day promoting his new book, "Grown Up Digital: How The Net Generation Is Changing The World" and he spoke of how scientists are beginning to realize that because of today's youth essentially being born with a computer in their hand from day one practically, that it's going to change the way that they use their brain and that it will actually change the way the human brain functions and handles tasks and problem solving.
They will change the world we live in for the better in ways no other generation before them could (or would for that matter.)
And I'm way too excited to see what you guys end up doing.
So, in the replies to this post, give me a hint- what do you think Young America should do to help make this world a better place?
Thank You, Young America.
3 Comments:
We as young America have to, above all else, keep listening to both sides, and not just our own. We only grow as a nation when we reach for compromise and find a good middle ground. I am an advocate for free love, and hope that this whole stupid non issue of gay marriage gets resolved. All that will happen by allowing gay marriage is help these American's out financially more than anything, nothing else will change. As soon as the bigwigs in my party realize this, or, like McCain, admit it as an issue left best up to the states, I think we will be ok. It will take time, but not as long as we think. It only took about 50 years for blacks to have to sit at the back of a bus to, literally, being in charge of our country. I didn't vote for Obama, but I am proud that my generation is finally involved in the democratic process.
Also, I think the 90s were a great time for punk rock. NoFX, Rancid, Jawbreaker, Rage Against the Machine (who found stuff to yell about) and plenty of others slipping my head right now, were great bands, who are now getting the attention they deserve.
This time we learned our lesson. In 2004 I think that the biggest problem was that we were so sure we couldn't lose. No way would the country elect Bush again, but then people assumed everyone else was voting, didn't vote and the unthinkable happened.
This time around there were more motivated young people who saw what happened the last time when they were too young to vote, and made the change.
As someone who has only been able to vote in the last two presidential elections I'm floored by the response of my generation. It's amazing the difference four years can make. I hope that the youth keeps up this change and keeps caring. I think that is the most important thing this country needs right now is involvement.
I've crossed the line of what would be called "young America" but as part of the old "Generation X" (yeah, I got tired of that phrase too), I feel proud of the generation after me, the one that saw this through. Whether you voted for Obama OR McCain, you voted. With the economy, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Big 3, the banks, etc, Obama is going to be hard pressed to do much beyond attempting to fix this, yet rather than say, "it won't make a difference, it's all f-ed up!" you got out there and said your piece. So...
Young America needs to keep doing that! Learn about what's going on around you and participate, vote, look around your neighborhood, your city, state, and do whatever little you can to make this a country that is worth the bother, something more than an international bully, something for other nations to look at proudly.
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