What Obama's Victory Means To Me

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theobserver -> What Obama's Victory Means To Me (11/8/2008 9:23:00 PM)
I wanted to share this with you guys. I wrote it to a friend and just felt compelled, in light of all the post election commentary, to share it. I have been so elated the past few days. I sat in Seattle so overwhelmed with emotion. I don't know if you could understand. I recall a time when I was very young ... maybe 7 or 8. I was in this children's restaurant called showbiz pizza place (now Chuck E Cheeses). They had this animatronics show that was state of the art (for the time) and an expansive arcade and ride area. I was trying to see the animatronics show, so I move closer to the stage in the dining area. It was my birthday and I was so excited ... then a young caucasian boy, about the say age as me, approached. He wanted to get in front of me ... instead of asking me politely he said "move out of the way nigger." I was so devastated. I remember running to my parents, crying. My whole birthday seemed ruined. I was never able to forget the moment. I kept thinking "what did I do to make him hate me so?" That has been a vivid memory that has stayed with me until this very moment. Obama's victory is more than just about him. It's about me and what I've felt and endured, what my mother and her mother ... and my great grand mother has endured. It's the feeling that when we are at our lowest moment there is always a shining light ready to lead us out of the darkness. My mother is the sad result of slavery. I've never bought into the idea of reparations in this era ... at least in the form of forty acres and a mule. I feel that reparations, today, should be distributed in the form of mental health access. What I feel so many people miss is that the psychological effects of slavery and Jim Crow has been passed down from generation to generation and it's caused more than damaging effects on black Americans. The way children are reared and the jaded approach to life can be all attributed to how the older generation views the world. My mother was raised in households of dysfunction, from an abusive mother who disciplined her children by holding their ears to a stove range (for taking candy out of store), to having a foster parent that was never "there". These things must be addressed honestly and I feel Obama's ascension to the Presidency is the first step. I must break the cycle, but I feel so does the rest of America Ask yourself ... who do you want to be in four years and who do you want your children to be? It 's not about blame, it's about solution. I really want to address those and move forward. We are much more than our past. edited for misspellings - Show quoted text -

outlier -> RE: What Obama's Victory Means To Me (11/9/2008 12:06:53 AM)
Observer, Thank you for posting this. Your posted age tells me this happened in the 80s. So sad that children were being raised this way then and I am sure still are now. "You've got to be taught to learn to hate before you are six or seven or eight. You've got to be carefully taught" South Pacific Outlier

UmbraDomina -> RE: What Obama's Victory Means To Me (11/9/2008 12:15:23 AM)
what Obama's victory means to me........... the price of ammo, brass, powder, and magazines as well as other reloading supplies almost doubled. I reside in fear of having my personal property being ruled as against the law for me to own.

CassandraNova -> RE: What Obama's Victory Means To Me (11/9/2008 12:20:08 AM)
quote: I reside in fear of having my personal property being ruled as against the law for me to own. quote: ORIGINAL: UmbraDomina what Obama's victory means to me........... the price of ammo, brass, powder, and magazines as well as other reloading supplies almost doubled. I reside in fear of having my personal property being ruled as against the law for me to own. I know, it's going to be sooooo expensive to kill animals and people and now. :( And everyone knows you can't defend your home without a large cache of ammunition.

UmbraDomina -> RE: What Obama's Victory Means To Me (11/9/2008 12:26:06 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: CassandraNova quote: I reside in fear of having my personal property being ruled as against the law for me to own. quote: ORIGINAL: UmbraDomina what Obama's victory means to me........... the price of ammo, brass, powder, and magazines as well as other reloading supplies almost doubled. I reside in fear of having my personal property being ruled as against the law for me to own. I know, it's going to be sooooo expensive to kill animals and people and now. :( And everyone knows you can't defend your home without a large cache of ammunition. Thank you for your assumptions....... no matter how judgmental, and wrong they are. I shoot paper, not people and certianly not animals..... It is a hobby, one I have taken part in for 30 years, both as a hobbist and on a competitive level. Unfortunatly you also missed the actual point of my post...... the reason such things as ammo has doubled in price is so many people fear, that their right to bear arms, will be taken away from them.

FullfigRIMaam -> RE: What Obama's Victory Means To Me (11/9/2008 12:41:01 AM)
What his victory means to me is beyond my ability to express in words. What is more important though, and maybe only to myself, is that there is hope again for the future. theobserver, most people here don't admit to having emotions for fear of being mocked, or perceived as being weak... Often Compassion and kindness are ridiculed concepts, thank God for all the ways we have to calm our own discomfort (like drinking, prescription and non prescription drugs, etc). What it meant to you, unfortunately doesn't mean much to the person whose ammo is more expensive; it means something to me, not only because I'm a bit empathetic anyway, but have also been in your shoes, though not exactly. M

DarkSteven -> RE: What Obama's Victory Means To Me (11/9/2008 6:41:59 AM)
Funny, isn't it? Everyone makes a big thing about anti-black bias, but all the bias against Obama is because he's a Democrat or a liberal. It's up to Obama to dispel them. Bush has unfortunately come to signify what a Republican and a conservative can be - it's up to the GOP to do better in future.

OrionTheWolf -> RE: What Obama's Victory Means To Me (11/9/2008 7:04:54 AM)
~FR~ With recent rulings by the courts, I doubt anyone has to worry about the right to bear arms. What the election means to me is that many people are pissed because of how poorly the Republican party did things, and they are so sick of the status quo that they want change. Obama has a lot to live up to, and I just hope he will be able to walk on water when the masses expect him to.

pahunkboy -> RE: What Obama's Victory Means To Me (11/9/2008 7:15:18 AM)
On guns, during katrina the govt showed up to take the guns. so- if one could not have one then, then when could one be alowed to have one???? katrina happend under bush. who ordered the guns confiscated???? who????

Musicmystery -> RE: What Obama's Victory Means To Me (11/9/2008 7:15:19 AM)
quote: Unfortunatly you also missed the actual point of my post...... the reason such things as ammo has doubled in price is so many people fear, that their right to bear arms, will be taken away from them. Actually the point is that a group of people are exhibiting irrational fear and misplacing the cause.

theobserver -> RE: What Obama's Victory Means To Me (11/9/2008 8:59:34 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: outlier Observer, Thank you for posting this. Your posted age tells me this happened in the 80s. So sad that children were being raised this way then and I am sure still are now. "You've got to be taught to learn to hate before you are six or seven or eight. You've got to be carefully taught" South Pacific Outlier Thank you, Outlier. Yesterday morning a friend called me. She was livid about media reporting that asserted, the passing of Prop 8 was the fault of Black Californians. Supposedly this notion that has been touted as fact, since Tuesday, has some in the GLBT community angry and resorting to racial slander of all Black Americans. I told my friend politely, that this moment is our time. We do have a right to let it sink in and feel happy. Sure, this is all an orchestrated lie to diminish the moment and begin the process of breaking apart the strong coalition of American citizens that Obama has created. I know and many others know how the game is played. However, no one is going to rain on my parade. As I stated in another thread, allow the man to be sworn into office before trying to tear him and black America down. Allow us this moment. I have the real facts on Black Californians and Prop 8, but I won't get into that debate in this thread. It's just really sad to see some in the GLBT community resorted to racism and white supremacy when they do not get what they want. What a slap in the face to people like Sam Jackson who made commercials urging Californians to vote No on Prop 8. Real sad.

theobserver -> RE: What Obama's Victory Means To Me (11/9/2008 9:00:55 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Musicmystery quote: Unfortunatly you also missed the actual point of my post...... the reason such things as ammo has doubled in price is so many people fear, that their right to bear arms, will be taken away from them. Actually the point is that a group of people are exhibiting irrational fear and misplacing the cause. To the point and well said.

bestbabync -> RE: What Obama's Victory Means To Me (11/9/2008 9:07:31 AM)
one major thing the Obama victory means to me? i am a "mutt" just like PE Obama. i see more black hatred for white people now. i attended a step show this past weekend where the black national anthem was sang, but the national anthem was not. i felt very very sad!!!!! the feelings and actions i have observed since nov 4th in the black community has really scared me. statements such as, "it is our time and we are going to change this country for the better" and "no more white suppression or reign over us". i was in a conversation with friends there and several were saying things like this is a new america. the past no longer matters and who cares about history. since i am part of both races, my country's history does matter to me. the national anthem i do love to hear. america is the home of the brave to me. maybe many of you do not believe this country to be great, but i do. everyone take a minute to look around not outside your home, but right in your immediate view. we all have so much to be thankful for. everything in our lives and our country is not shit, at least not yet.

bestbabync -> RE: What Obama's Victory Means To Me (11/9/2008 9:10:39 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: theobserver quote: ORIGINAL: Musicmystery quote: Unfortunatly you also missed the actual point of my post...... the reason such things as ammo has doubled in price is so many people fear, that their right to bear arms, will be taken away from them. Actually the point is that a group of people are exhibiting irrational fear and misplacing the cause. To the point and well said. not everyone shares in the liberal beliefs and cause.

theobserver -> RE: What Obama's Victory Means To Me (11/9/2008 9:12:23 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: OrionTheWolf ~FR~ With recent rulings by the courts, I doubt anyone has to worry about the right to bear arms. What the election means to me is that many people are pissed because of how poorly the Republican party did things, and they are so sick of the status quo that they want change. Obama has a lot to live up to, and I just hope he will be able to walk on water when the masses expect him to. You have a point. I post regularly on a political blog and it's always been important to me to look at things with a realistic eye; at least in regards to the election and President elect Obama. He has said himself, before and after the election, that change will not be easy. It will mean some action and sacrifice from American citizens, but we can get things accomplished. I always liked the line he used that stated ... "We (as in political leaders) need to tell the people what they need to hear, not what they want to hear" My suggestion to everyone, whether you voted for President elect Obama or not, please hold your local officials and Congressional Representatives accountable. Visit change.gov, which is the new website which hopefully will give us some transparency in government. Also check out the Congressional Report Card. See what your members of Congress are doing and if they are do-nothings or working against your interests, send them a letter and let them know you will not forget come midterms. They work for the people, it is not the other way around. When Obama is trying to get Congress to pass certain legislation and you support that, don't let them stonewall, filibuster or twiddle their thumbs. Write and call, send a clear message these bills must pass or they will be out of a job. President elect Obama cannot walk on water. He's not Jesus (and even he couldn't). He is an intelligent man, thoughtful, tempered and understand the nuance within the problems our country faces. There may be some things that are harder for him to accomplish in office, but with Americans behind him and with the good intention for the country as a whole, we can get many things done. Yes it takes hope, but hope is nothing without action. Edited for grammar (this won't be the first time lol).

Musicmystery -> RE: What Obama's Victory Means To Me (11/9/2008 9:14:03 AM)
quote: i attended a step show this past weekend where the black national anthem was sang, but the national anthem was not. I think you need to be a little patient. When Johnson was working toward Civil Rights, he was frustrated that he was still receiving ample criticizing from people of color. Someone pointed out to him---I think it was Dr. King, but I'm not positive--something along the lines of "After years of having your foot on a man's neck, you can't except him to be grateful just because you've taken it off." Something many people thought was impossible happened on Tuesday. Give decades of frustration and cynicism on all sides more than a few days to take it all in and adjust.

bestbabync -> RE: What Obama's Victory Means To Me (11/9/2008 9:15:11 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: theobserver quote: ORIGINAL: outlier Observer, Thank you for posting this. Your posted age tells me this happened in the 80s. So sad that children were being raised this way then and I am sure still are now. "You've got to be taught to learn to hate before you are six or seven or eight. You've got to be carefully taught" South Pacific Outlier Thank you, Outlier. Yesterday morning a friend called me. She was livid about media reporting that asserted, the passing of Prop 8 was the fault of Black Californians. Supposedly this notion that has been touted as fact, since Tuesday, has some in the GLBT community angry and resorting to racial slander of all Black Americans. I told my friend politely, that this moment is our time. We do have a right to let it sink in and feel happy. Sure, this is all an orchestrated lie to diminish the moment and begin the process of breaking apart the strong coalition of American citizens that Obama has created. I know and many others know how the game is played. However, no one is going to rain on my parade. As I stated in another thread, allow the man to be sworn into office before trying to tear him and black America down. Allow us this moment. I have the real facts on Black Californians and Prop 8, but I won't get into that debate in this thread. It's just really sad to see some in the GLBT community resorted to racism and white supremacy when they do not get what they want. What a slap in the face to people like Sam Jackson who made commercials urging Californians to vote No on Prop 8. Real sad. i feel the bolded words above feeds racism! when you use descriptive words like "Black America and White America" you automatically create division!

bestbabync -> RE: What Obama's Victory Means To Me (11/9/2008 9:16:35 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Musicmystery quote: i attended a step show this past weekend where the black national anthem was sang, but the national anthem was not. I think you need to be a little patient. When Johnson was working toward Civil Rights, he was frustrated that he was still receiving ample criticizing from people of color. Someone pointed out to him---I think it was Dr. King, but I'm not positive--something along the lines of "After years of having your foot on a man's neck, you can't except him to be grateful just because you've taken it off." Something many people thought was impossible happened on Tuesday. Give decades of frustration and cynicism on all sides more than a few days to take it all in and adjust. if you say so, but i am in the middle of it and i see something totally different!

theobserver -> RE: What Obama's Victory Means To Me (11/9/2008 9:39:58 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: bestbabync one major thing the Obama victory means to me? i am a "mutt" just like PE Obama. i see more black hatred for white people now. i attended a step show this past weekend where the black national anthem was sang, but the national anthem was not. i felt very very sad!!!!! the feelings and actions i have observed since nov 4th in the black community has really scared me. statements such as, "it is our time and we are going to change this country for the better" and "no more white suppression or reign over us". i was in a conversation with friends there and several were saying things like this is a new america. the past no longer matters and who cares about history. since i am part of both races, my country's history does matter to me. the national anthem i do love to hear. america is the home of the brave to me. maybe many of you do not believe this country to be great, but i do. everyone take a minute to look around not outside your home, but right in your immediate view. we all have so much to be thankful for. everything in our lives and our country is not shit, at least not yet. Why do you call yourself a mutt? Obama does not refer to himself as that. My um's are biracial. I am a Black woman, my ex is a Caucasian man. I do not refer to my um's as mutts and nobody better not ever come over to them and say something so vile and disrespectful. A mutt is a dog. My um's are not dogs. Okay, forgive my outburst, but it just didn't settle well with me. You have the right to refer to yourself anyway you like, it's just not for me. Yes, we have a lot to be thankful for but aren't you putting your head in the sand a bit by proclaiming it's blacks that aren't and it's black to fear? You know I have a different take on things than you. I fear people like you. The ones who pretend everything is well and place the blame for all of our societal woes at the feet of Blacks in America. Knowing good and well that there has been and still is a power structure in place that has supported the continuous institution of white supremacy. Look at the Prison industrial complex. As Obama said, "Goverment cannot solve all of our problems," however I'll be damned to not question why we are building more prisons and less outstanding schools. Teachers unions are vilified by the right, but what's so wrong about, not only demanding excellence from our teachers, but providing them the pay and resources to put that excellence into action? Sure, government cannot come into your home and read to your little one every night, but how about, instead of a parent having to work two jobs to support a family, only needing a solid one, so that they are not dog tired when they get home and can read to their little one. The black middleclass use to thrive more in the past, not because Jim Crow was great, but because there was still a viable blue collar working class industry for men to work in and provide a decent living for their family. There were inequalities in pay and treatment but at least many could put food on the table. Now those industries that provided a working class black, white and latino man a honest day's wage for honest day's work, are fading out and if not corrected will be no more. Now, to address the "Black National Anthem." This song has been sung in every black school (along with the Star Spangled Banner) since as far back as I can remember. It is nothing new, maybe to whites who've never stepped foot in a predominately black school, but surely not to me. 246 years of slavery and 100 years of Jim Crow. For nearly four hundred years black were not considered Americans and let's not forget their was resistance to the Civil Rights Act ... so the seventies and eighties ushered in an era with the same thinking, except the ideas were expressed behind closed doors, while policies were enacted that continued to subjugate Black Americans. Lift Ev'ry Voice And Sing was written during Jim Crow, yes it was our anthem at a time when our grandfathers and grandmothers were shown and told they were to be seen not heard and that they were not real Americans ... and in some cases not even human. So carry on with your twisted logic, but the math is quite simple even for a college dropout such as myself ... 346 years without freedom, of slavery and terror - compared to 43 years of supposed freedom. Old wounds don't heal quite that fast.

Musicmystery -> RE: What Obama's Victory Means To Me (11/9/2008 9:43:13 AM)
quote: Obama does not refer to himself as that. When talking about getting a puppy for his children, he mentioned that while they needed to address their older daughter's allergies, they would on balance like to rescue a dog from a shelter---complicated because those dogs tend to be "mutts, like me."

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