Barack Obama’s victory speech
I just got in from the party in central London.
It was quite odd, because I had a great night with my friends – but was slightly aware and feeling slightly strange about the fact that as we were talking, and votes were coming in, well… I was sure I was going to cry. And yet I didn’t.
And then…
And then the graphic came on screen. That Barack Obama was the President Elect.
And that was it.
I just instantly started blubbing like a baby… and I’ve been blubbing ever since.
Here was his acceptance speech:
November 5th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Hey!!! I’m glad it wasn’t just me then. I was going when he went to vote in the afternoon in Chicago. But that 30 seconds between the west coast polls closing, and Wolf Blitzer’s announcement was an eternity. I think I wasn’t too bad until I saw Rev Jesse Jackson near enough break down, and since then I have been a state!! I’ve been reduced to watching Girls Aloud on This Morning!! I’m staying away from news for most of today. But I’m feeling pretty good for three hours sleep.
Have a good gig this afternoon
November 5th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Simply wonderful, epic, amazing, no words describe how I feel today.
Actually, one sums it up pretty well. Tired.
November 5th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
I waited up till late last night, and it was looking very good, but I had to go to bed around midnight (northeastern Brazilian time) – I’m running a symposium and had to get up early today. Just as I walked into my daughter’s bedroom to say good-morning, I saw that Obama’s victory speech was playing on CNN. I started sobbing. And dancing samba. I have never bawled for joy in my life before. Congratulations to everyone who has fought the good fight, and now let’s hope that Obama can bear the tremendous burden of responsibility and expectation that we have placed on his shoulders. In my humble opinion, to paraphrase a slogan – YES HE CAN!
November 5th, 2008 at 5:32 pm
As an American fascinated by your fascination in our election, I’d like to ask you, what exactly do you hope will change and for whom? Is it particular policies domestically, or foreign policy that concerns you most? Is it the case that you believe an alternative president will impact your daily reality in Britain?
Ulla
November 6th, 2008 at 9:15 am
Hi Ulla – personally, while clearly American policy affects our policy (most notably in defence), I am actually mostly excited for the change this means for the American people. specifically, the stance taken by Obama/Biden (as opposed to McCain/Palin and Bush/Cheney) on the economy, health care, the environment, abortion rights and science (as well as foreign policy, which does of course affect the American people in terms of troops being sent to fight unnecessary wars; and the amount of money that is spent on those wars).
and aside from specific policy issues, I think simply having two highly intelligent, talented and compassionate men leading the administration will do so much to heal the country (and also the world), and take it in the right direction.
yes, I’m definitely an Americaphile. but it’s more than that. it’s wanting what’s best for people, no matter where they live.
November 6th, 2008 at 9:18 am
Sabrina – what a lovely image, I can just picture you!
thanks for your support and comment.
Darrell – unbelievably, thankfully, my gig got cancelled the night before (and I still got paid – oh happy day!). which meant I could a) stay up all night, b) have a drink, and c) sleep in the next day. like I say: oh happy day.
November 6th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Hi there Andrea, I understand that your motives are good and well intended but I am still confused. What does it mean to be an Americanphile? Do you like our movies more than you hate the fact we kill our own citizens in the electric chair?
Since I moved to this country as a research student I have encountered mass anti-Americanism. We are ’stupid/ignorant/religious nuts/ humorless’ etc. I’m sure you’ are aware of the stereotypes. So I was astounded by the mass interest and coverage of our election! In the USA we really don’t give a crap who the Europeans vote in, exept maybe in the East Coast urban areas.
Also I think it is naive to assume that because Obama is black, talented and a man of integrity, that he will have any real power to change anything. Certainly Clinton’s inspired reform was crushed by the Senate and the real power of an ultra-liberal economy, namely the pharmaceutical and arms industries. Obama’s victory is a momentous, much needed tonic but this messiah-like worship will turn so very sour if he fails to walk on water.
November 6th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
by Americaphile I guess that, since I was young, I have been interested in, and very fond of, America and inspired and influenced by so many Americans (chiefly culturally/creatively). I simply have a fondness for the country; and have been very struck by the warmth and generosity of its people whenever I have spent time there.
I am not, however, an unthinking Americaphile. there are many values and policies (such as, yes, capital punishment; also creationism; the pro-gun lobby; and the sorts of things expressed by people like Bill O’Reilly) that are core to many Americans’ views and which I find completely abhorrent. I am, after all, a liberal leftie
. But I know that there are plenty of Americans who share my opinions about those things, too.
(and yes, I’m aware of the awful stereotypes – British people can be terribly snobbish and patronising about Americans – but I think a lot of what’s been deemed as ‘anti-American’ feeling has actually, specifically, been anti-Bush feeling. many of us have hated Bush but don’t hate Americans. and I know all too well from having dated an American for a number of years that you guys don’t care what we think over here! hehe
)
I am similarly not unthinking about Obama. but I do think that he will have the power to do an awful lot of good – that this isn’t just about him being a symbol (as powerful as that symbol is). I do think his approach is very, very different from the Bush/Cheney/McCain/Palin one, and his values and those of those he surrounds himself with are similarly different (as it were); and this leads to the pursuit of different policies and different agendas as a result.
just off the top of my head, for example: an acceptance that global warming is man-made, and a willingness to do something about it. a compassion for those less fortunate, and a belief that we are our brother’s keeper. a ‘war as a last resort’ philosophy. an admiration for science and intellectual curiosity. a belief in a woman’s right to choose. a health care system on the side of the people, not the insurance companies. an economy that doesn’t simply reward the rich, or one’s own friends in big business. and so on.