because I read a lot, a lot of newspapers, blogs, magazines, books, whatever and of late the topic of our new president has been a hot one and I wouldn't be the first to use that applicable title. I am not going to make a bunch of entries with my thoughts, because that is not why you guys visit our little spot on the web, but I am going to apologize now since this entry will likely be all over the map.

As far as Obama being my president elect, I am proud of my country for making the right decision (for once?). I am optimistic in a way I never have been in my life. This must be what it felt like to be a supporter of John F. Kennedy, or even one of the many who went to sleep thinking McGovern would destroy Nixon in 1972, only to wake up to really bad news. I am not a supporter of Obama because he is black (I will get back to this though.), I am a supporter of him because I believe he is a leader and that he represents the kind of change that we need. I believe he is pro-active, just look at his aggressive first week. I believe he will look past party lines and make decisions because they are the right ones, not the popular ones and not the easy ones.

All I have heard this week from customers at work, and from friends via text, e-mail and in person is how happy and optimistic they are. Everyone has an extra hop in their step, a smile on their faces, and even text messages from the biggest sour pusses I know have had an extra :-) or two. Mind you, I live in one of the bluest of blue states, so it comes as no surprise here. Although living in my indigo world can also be a curse. It is exactly why I went to bed four years ago thinking there was NO way this country would elect W again. Ouch.

I keep hearing about how black people are finally getting their moment, and while I get it, I don't fully agree. First of all this is not ONLY a moment for black people, this is a moment for us all. This is like the beginning of a relationship when everything is new, when you are so enamored with the possibilities, and so in love with the feeling that comes with being so happy about something that just feels so right. Just like all those times in my life I have been in that mind state I feel like this time, this time it will be the one. The one that never sours. My take on the race card is this. First Barack is clearly too qualified, and too intelligent to have played it. As far as black people having their moment, I have a few stories to share.

First of all, I watched the acceptance speech with my niece, My'Ana. She is six years old, and is mixed, with a white dad, and a black mom. She was happy that Barack won but really MOSTLY because she knew everyone around her had voted for him. It was a little like when she walks in while I am watching a football game and asks "Are the ones in blue or the ones in white the good guys?" and on hearing my explanation proceeds to pull for my Seahawks on my say so, while cutting the hair off yet another Hannah Montana doll. Then all of a sudden she noticed something, she noticed that our new president was "mixed" just like her. She was really excited, and even asked if that meant she could maybe be president. I told her it did and what I realized, was that for her, and many black kids growing up in this country this was a new revelation. As many times as kids have been told they could be anything they wanted to be if they just worked hard enough, black kids all had to feel that this was not reality until now. Finally one of those little boys who was told they could be anything they wanted to be, made it happen. This is part of the pride we saw in the streets of Chicago on Tuesday night (and in Seattle, New York, Kenya, England, and...).

My cousin Anthony, who is black, was adopted by my aunt and uncle as a baby and got to vote for the first time in his life for a black president. His brother Joe had to drive him to another county to vote as Ant hadn't kept up to date since moving and could only vote at a courthouse miles away. Joe made a point when he explained how proud he was to have helped his kid brother take part in such a big election. His point was that for far too long every time society has told a black man no it came with a few stones in their pockets. Over time those stones add up, and for some it holds them back and for everyone in that situation it is at the very least a burden. Joe said it felt like he saw about half those stones fall out of Anthony's pockets when Obama won. Not all the stones mind you, but certainly a weight had been lifted. That is why you have to understand the collective feeling that this election really does mean "Yes We Can".

I said earlier that I look at other blogs, DJ Bana, Tommie Battle, and people like that with a really special eye for photography make me jealous, and I follow their work often. I wish I could take a great picture to accompany my posts but I can't so instead if you want to see good photos, go see them ( I owe Tommie for the great picture I used up top today), and if you want more political blogging you have plenty of options there too, but I am done with it. Check back soon for more art from Chris and more poop jokes, and goldfish pranks from me. Thanks again guys for keeping up with us, and even more for putting up with us.