Help
Sign In
election 08
January 2009 
Tears
Posted on Nov 5th, 2008
by 
Keith
Keith
President-Elect Obama
This morning I was writing a comment on my wife's blog which kept growing and growing . . . into a blog post . . .
Okay . . . the truth . . .
I have not always been proud of "my people". "My people" being narrowly defined as white males. We have . . . um? . . . a lot of skeletons in our closet. Many of these skeletons, unfortunately, are quite embarrassing, to put it mildly.
This is why I could only shake my head in bewilderment over the furor Michelle Obama received when she evidently made a "gaffe" by stating she was proud of her country "for the first time".
Well, I won't go that far. Perhaps she should have left off that "for the first time" part.
We don't fully understand. "We" being whites and males. The best we can do is say we think we understand. Some will attempt to cling to that inbred delusional feeling of superiority, of course. I never went there in the first place, seeing discrimination for what it was and rejecting it.
Throughout this long campaign and yesterday's election, several glass ceilings were shattered. We can finally put the American Civil War to rest, which ended in 1864. We can move past that now.
The woman's suffrage movement begun in the late Eighteenth Century and which culminated with the right to vote granted in the early Twentieth Century can finally, at the dawn of the Twenty-First Century, be put behind us.
These are just the obvious. Digging deeper and pondering this miraculous and practically instantaneous transformation will, I guarantee, produce more shattered glass from other ceilings. The stranglehold of the white male is no more.
Good riddance.
I too watched as the Rev. Jesse Jackson openly wept for the whole world to see, unashamed and unapologetic. He was one of countless others, across the planet, whose emotions overtook them. I am a white male and I'm having something of a difficult time processing my feelings. As I write this . . . I shed tears in a flood of emotion for the first time, the enormity of this change seeping in and being processed.
To every person of color and to every female . . . I wrap my arms around you as we all rejoice and shed great tears of joy. I hold you tightly because try as hard as I may I cannot feel this change the way you do. That does not mean I don't want to. I do.
Today I am so proud to be an American. This isn't the first time and I know it won't be the last.
Access: PublicTagged with: Election 08
this is it!
Yes Yes Yes…… and we are ONE …..
Love you for these thoughts Keith……
If all the tears that were shed last night were conbined, I am sure we would fill an ocean.
I spent last night at an election party with blacks, latins, white, young and old; (Is this not what America stands for?) many tears were shed, leaping in the air, relief and just a thank you to most of America for not being fooled by evil ads and looking past the color of a person's color.
I love you Keith, as a woman and a person of colour and as a human being that doesn't subscribe to any of these distinctions in my relations, thank God!
I've only been recently made aware of the actual dynamics of Western society and where the true authority lay[ past tense], and yes you're right, it has been your demographic profile.
But thankfully, the true authority - which I refer to as God - doesn't play that game, and is conscious and aware of each of us as we are, and allows us to sow karmic seeds for ourselves. So really, there's no reason to suffer yourself with the 'sins of the father'; yet another mind-crudding analogy that has been fed to people over time and that keeps us from moving forward.
I never had an interest to live in the States because of the conditions which you described. I'm thankful I had a choice… As of today, you have a new leader that's representative of God's Authority who can be colour-blind… he was designed that way, you see?
Please, do your grieving, but be sure that your positive energy is what is needed and wanted as we all go forward. As Aley said before: there is work to be done, not only in your country, but everywhere.
You have my total love and support.
Be blessed.
Sherri
This is just beautiful dear
Keith, I am so proud of you for writing this blog! I am so proud of Aley for sharing you with us and I embrace you both in a HUGE HUG right now!
As a woman in the deep South in the U.S. I am all too aware of the struggles and sacrifices that humanity has had to make and the incredible journey that we have to take to arrive at this place in history! I remember the MS National Guard stationed at Ole Miss (University of MS) when James Meredith enrolled there as the first student of color, the marches across the state line in Selma, AL, the difficulties growing up in the south. I remember my grandmother insisting and assisting as I made a scrapbook of JFK and then the shot was fired that was heard around the world. After that things seemed to spiral and we have longed to once again move onward and upward!!!
Those were challenging times, but they were times that brought growth and character and perspective. Today is so huge that we cannot fully comprehend the depth and breadth and height of what has begun here.
I so want to thank you for being one who kept the momentum going here on Gaia to support and cheer for President Obama and who has already begun work for CHANGE.
Celebrating and shedding tears of joy for this incredible time!
Love, Light and Laughter,Starseed
Keith, if there's one thing Obama has done, it's to remind us that this victory is for everyone. Heck, even George W. Bush is feeling it.
i cried readign your post, keith, thanks for the bg embrace, and you will be rouod to be american a whole bunch more
Oh my!!! Gaia must be having some technical difficulties because I did not receive e-mail notifications of everyone's comments!!! Wow!
First off, Sherri, dear one, you have it a bit incorrect. I did not shed tears of grieving, far from it. I cried tears of sheer joy … as I made my feeble attempt to walk for a moment … in your shoes. I was overwhelmed with emotion.
And as I said, I felt this through my filters, my life experiences, my perceptions. The point I was making was I can look through that mirror only dimly while walking … in your shoes.
The tears of joy I shed … were for you and with you. Being a white male, I anticipated the election of Barack Obama as being healing for the races. I could see that having a female candidate on the opposing ticket was also significant and could be healing between the sexes. No matter which party won, history was being made.
I did not anticipate either outcome as being cathartic. Never entered my mind. The euphoria of winning? Yes. But what we witnessed last night was way, way beyond that.
And your shoes, Sherri, and all those of color, and all women? I intuited that they've been uncomfortable at times. Couldn't help but notice some rough places and blood stains from the blisters. You could probably do okay at times, but those stairs and hills were difficult, I'd guess.
So, somewhere around 63,914,808 of us got together here in the United States and we smoothed over those rough spots and wiped the blood stains away. Should make walking those stairs and hills a lot easier in the future.
I am so, so proud of what me and my 63,914,807 friends have accomplished … even though I know we've only begun …
Keith, I remember you as the first person I know who endorsed Obama and was mostly busy with your pod on that, a long time ago, on Gaia. On one of your blogs, I'd commented that I feel he will win…
And reading this blog, I am reminded of two things.
One, that I was so startled to see young “white” men so enthused at the Chicago rally. I say “white” because at that time, I thought of them as just young men who are usually difficult to enthuse, I”d have thought! On reading your blog, I feel even more what a wonder that was.
I guess because I am Indian; it seems strange to be reminded that here, in the U.S., I will probably be seen as a person of color- both a woman, and brown!!! Yet growing up in India, where everyone's like me–or lighter or darker– helps us to be comfortable under the skin, and carry that comfort with us even in the U.S.A. I think it's because people are generally civil, and don't outwardly show any disdain..or perhaps I am blissfully unaware as I have so many friends here, from all over the world!
I'm enjoy reading all the blogs about Obama, and hope you will see the reference to yours, on mine!
Thank you Keith for these beautiful and heartfelt statements.
I AM!
Samme
Keith, you nailed this so beautifully, thank you for sharing - i too understood what Michelle Obama said & have spent numerous occassions attempting to explain this to family & friends.
I too, like you, didn't realize the cathartic moment that i would witness. I saw the character of this man, not really the color of his skin. I voted & believed in his words & his message… but now having witnessed the glorious emotions that were felt around the country & world & my own tears of joy. My whole heart could see - what this moment really was about - how many different dimensions of healing this man could inspire - i have been truly moved by this moment :)
Now we get to begin this huge task of change & unity.. and it feels so right… in so many ways.
Dear Keith,
Thank you for your tears, and for your embrace. They are heart felt. Hugging you back.
I do have to say I as a female non-voting resident of the US (born in the Netherlands - lived on different continents) yesterday was the first time EVER I felt patriotic about being in this beautiful country that I have LOVED and appreciated for a long long time in the 17 years I've lived here. I completely get what Michelle Obama said when she shared her '1st time pride'. She is no push over - and I'm so encouraged by the fact that she was unapologetic in her heart felt sentiments. Michelle is a women who holds her own, and I am watching her in joy and gratitude. I danced around in Red/White/Blue yesterday - election eve - and wondered if maybe the new patriotic color may be purple as Democrats and Republicans along with the people of the Green Party and independents may be inspired to become Unite-I-Can's under Obama's leadership. The healing sounds in the name Obama for me resonate 'Unite-I-Can” like no other name before.
This is another aspect of Obama's win that I was pleasantly surprised about … the reaction and dancing in the streets of people … across the planet!!! I knew the world (all non-US) preferred Obama to be our president. And I suspected that those in Kenya and throughout Africa would rejoice.
But seeing such rejoicing outside our borders was awe-inspiring. That moved me as well.
I think we did good …
THE WISDOM of knowledge of understanding IS for ALL to seek
In one fell swoop, the people of America have transformed the world's opinion of their country. They've shown the world who America really is; the faces behind THE FACE of the government or President. And in doing so, have helped people to like and love America again!
One of the major hurdles blocking the New has been removed.
One of the frustrating parts of this “phase” is that the new administration and Congress do not assume power till January. Congress will convene in early January and President Obama will be sworn in on the 20th.
We know and have read that they are moving with much haste to implement change, getting ready. We wish them God speed.
It pleases me that we have redeemed ourselves in the eyes of the world. We were never “bad”, you know. Enough people were duped into putting people in power who did not have the people's best interests in mind.
The election was about power. And we spoke decisively. We took our power back.
Ohhhh, dear Keith, I feel so honored to know you. Thank you for your wonderful sentiments and heartfelt expression – hugs accepted!!!
This HAS been above and beyond an election for a president, and while I can't possibly know what this means for many in our black and other minority communities, I sense that this was monumental.
I'm grateful for the men in this world who are like you, Keith. I've always known you, and others like you, have been out there struggling with these issues of racism and sexism. Clearly, you have been a trail blazer for those who are finally able to see beyond the color of one's skin and recognize the amazing PERSON that is Barak Obama.
For me as a white woman, who has not only been ashamed of who we've become in this country over last eight years, but even of the shameful things that have been done since Europeans set foot on this continent, I felt a deep healing start to take place because of this election. This will be something we mull over for a long time to come.
Thanks again.
You rock, Keith….seriously. Reading this makes me feel proud to be an American—and to know you! xox
: )
T'wern't nuthin'.
Thanks for the kind comments and words of encouragement. We all brought this about. So each of us should take a bow … even those outside the US.
I realize now that we were a “proxy” for many, many, many people. When we pushed that button, pulled that lever, or penciled in the bubble beside Barack Obama's name … we cast a vote, each of us, for 20, 30 or perhaps more people across the globe who didn't have a direct voice in this election, but who wanted to.
What a grand, grand thing we've accomplished.
Indeed. Feel the Love! So much stronger then pride after all.
Noticed here in Nassau County on Long Island that there is an enormous shift going on. Still a lot of staunch Republicans here, who are of the “we are better then anyone else - which is why we deserve to be beter off” mindset. And then in all honesty - who does not get caught up in being triggered by that at times, which means that there is that part in us that wants to be better and better off too. It is our birthright after all. It becomes tricky when that part in us starts to take over, wanting to be superior. Then we become that which we oppose so strongly - maybe hiding behind a different banner, and yet very much the same energy.
So now people here are carefully enquiring: “What do you think of the elections?” and not everyone has the courage to show their true colors here - or perhaps these colors are fading as people are very shaken up in their belief system. Especially in the WASPy families, people are admittedly (among eachother) freaking out - looking at who will be living in the White House soon.
I caught Spike Lee (whom I deeply love and respect) on tv saying: “They (white protestant males who have been in power for too long) failed to notice that memo from years ago: there is more of us (African Americans, Latino's - mixed race) in America now, we are the majority now.”
Still, a growing amount of people are celebrating the momentum here of moving beyond race - and the gift bestowed upon us in the form of our new president elect. The name Barack is the African (Swahili) form of the Hebrew name Baruch, meaning “blessed”. The name Hussein is the Arabic form of the Hebrew name Hasan, meaning “good” or “handsome”. Lastly I found the name Obama explained here: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_meaning_of_the_name_Obama
Hmmm, so in line with the theories about the New Age or Era we are approaching, here we have a “Blessed” one, a public servant who is determined to represent and bring out the “Good” in all, to guide us around the “bend” or along the “crooked” path, if you will, (instead of continuing to follow the straight and narrow, which evidently was an extremely destructive path) while the whole world is rejoicing at this change of direction.
So now is the time to rise to the occasion, and to rise above it all. Beyond race - beyond duality - to live the dream of being better - and better off - as people within a community - trusting there is enough to go around. As you said on Aley's blog: “We are the ones we've been waiting for!” Feel the Love.
Please allow me to also share with you: Changing the way we Change by HeyOK David - and inspired by Rob Brezsny, along with my musings of the eve of election night
on rising