"There is no obstacle that can stand in the way of millions of voices calling for change."
President Barack Obama, January 18, 2009.
Once again, when I am most full of emotion, words fail me. I am speechless. It is unbelievable to me that something this good could happen. I have witnessed so much ignorance--and I know it's only been a small amount compared to many people--that I really didn't think a day like today would ever come.
I have always felt profoundly connected to the struggle for civil rights, and I can't express the feelings I experienced on Sunday--the Sunday of MLK weekend--witnessing President Obama speak on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and listening to musicians pay tribute to MLK. Today, those feelings are multiplied by one million.
The only thing that has taken away from today is my ongoing struggle to figure out how to respond to those who don't want to embrace change or hope, and who refuse to acknowledge that the old administration made any mistakes, and who continue to fear that which is different. I'm all about seeing from other's point of view and being post-partisan; yet, I still haven't figured out how to respond to people who can only see things in one way, who don't understand that people's anger with the old administration is often legitimate, and who don't acknowledge that life is more complicated that Republican versus Democrat. Ugh!!
It a great step forward! but there still a lot of work that needs to be done until we can all start to be post partisan.
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