November 4, 2008 - Election Day in the USA - And Other Stuff

I began to write this entry on November 4th and finished it on November 8th. It obviously took me a few days to organize my thoughts. Which happens frequently due to lack of time - due to having fun with Theo or needing to put him in bed and reading him stories, or because we decided to take the dog for a walk later than usual...but this time I wanted to take the time to think things through. To formulate how I feel. So I began by putting down four points. The first three were entered on the first day. The last I just completed. Here they are...

1. Work went well, although I didn't get as much done as I wanted to. Then again, I wasn't there for half the day and had to leave a little over an hour early as Theo wasn't feeling well.

2. My knee saga will continue for about another 6 months before I know for sure what will happen. I'll keep you posted. But my guess is that I'm stuck with an inoperable torn ACL in my left knee. But as long as I can keep my sciatica flare ups under control I might be ok - not great, but ok. Actually, this is very frustrating, but I'm just going to have to deal - 'suck it up buttercup' as a very good friend might be inclined to say (on other things - but I think it applies in this instance also).

3. I went for a movie with Cheryl today. It was great! We saw 'Body of Lies'. It was surprizingly good! Leonardo DiCaprio is in my mind making a name for himself for taking on roles in films that some people in this world would prefer not being made (the other was 'Blood Diamond'). This is good - excellent in fact! These subjects need to be brought to the world's attention.

4. And finally - Barak Obama was elected president of the USA. This is obviously of major and historic importance! Many people I know are elated! Now we will have to see what form of change will occur. The man's job won't be easy. I feel a bit like a spectator - because that is what I am. I am not a US citizen. But I really do hope that positive change will occur! My friend posted the following video on her blog.



I hope that it is ok for me to use it here also. I really think it tells the story of hope of the American people right now. It is very inspiring! It shows Mr. Obama in a similar vein to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He may very well be.

But I do have to say one other thing here. I am always a great cynic. To a certain degree. Maybe because I tend to not want to hope/be too optimistic...it's probably a strong way to put it, but I tend to stay in the ball court as opposed to outside of this until I know what will happen. Politics have never been stable and some lobby groups have infernal powers over those that should be heard instead - over those who actually represent the average person in society.

I would like for this man to be the one to fix the US economy and by extension affect change externally to the US. That's the emotional response. He is a great hope - to the working class, to the poor, to the disadvantaged, to those in need of health care, to the economy, to African Americans and all other minority groups, to the emancipated, to those valuing human rights, to the entertainment/arts industry...the list is endless. And this is what he seems to want to do - to affect change. But I think external and internal pressures will make this work very difficult.

I have a friend who left Ottawa for 7 weeks to help with the Obama campaign in Ohio. I think this was great. Her work with the Obama campaign was from the sounds of it uplifting, worth while, tiring, wonderful, educational and hard work - it was for the right cause - the just cause and also to uphold human rights within the US and anywhere else really. And it happened! The first African American President of the United States of America was elected! Every vote really did count this time!

Let's keep our fingers crossed that Barak Obama can continue build on the foundations of the house he has begun to build...and I hope that some of the focus of his work will be the Middle East - to right the wrongs that the Palestinian people have had to endure - within Palestine and elsewhere also. To end racial profiling, to close Guantanamo as promised, to facilitate peace in Lebanon...this list is endless also. Can one human do this much work - and be solid on that many topics? It is a very murky political mine field out there. As another friend of mine said; 'One president caused a war - and another can end a war...' let's see what kind of job Obama can do to end the policy direction of the current regime. Here is where I'm trying to be optimistic. Obama's message is 'yes we can' and 'hope'. Hope is good. Maybe we really can! Which brings us back to faith...

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And on to a note for Theo - this one is not particularly flattering to me. :) But it was funny!

One day around the time that you were just learning to speak pretty well I was putting you into your car seat when I seriously whacked my head on the car. It really hurt and I was nearly seeing stars. But I still put you into your car seat fairly smoothly. I did however swear under my breath - but right above your face. And yes, it was the word 'fuck'. The SECOND I said it I regretted it, thinking at the same time, 'please, please - I hope you didn't notice what I just said!!!'. So I kept going and was putting on your seat belt when fairly quietly I heard you say the dreaded f word with your then tiny voice. I stopped and tried to quickly think about how to deal with this. And what came to me was the following. I asked you 'did you say duck?' - 'that's great Theo!'...and kept fiddling with your seat belt and put other stuff in the car...so you tried again. And I responded by saying - 'oh, you said sock! - I didn't know you knew how to say that! Great job Theo!'...and you tried again. This time I said 'oh, you said truck Theo! That's amazing!'...and you tried one final time. So I said 'oh, you said duck again! Great job Theo!!!'...and finally you conceded and said 'duck'!!!

Boy was I relieved! I wouldn't get away with that one now!!!!!!! *grins*