Wow (Obama)

glenmar

The civil rights movement wasn't all that long ago.  The marches, the murders, even of northern whites who went down to try to register black voters, who tried to move our country forward.....none of that is all so long ago.  I remember much of it from my youth.  And not all that many more years ago, black people were bought and sold like cattle, family units ripped apart, educating a black person was illegal.

Absolutely, Glenda.  I think there are a lot of forum members too  young to remember the chaos of the civil rights movement in the sixties.  My dad was from Georgia - blacks could not be served in white restaurants,  and schools, public restrooms, even water fountains were segregated. Up until 1967 interracial marriage was illegal in this country. That all seems so insane today but unless you can remember those days, you can't really appreciate what a huge step this is.

Joyce

 This is my post fro the other thread -- it should have been here:

I am almost 30, and this election is only the second time in my life that I have felt like part of a greater America.

Yesterday, we chose to unite as citizens, to turn out in record numbers (on both sides) and to have our voices heard. Demographics that don't usually vote showed up and participated. The citizens living in PA, OH and FL showed that every vote really does matter. We proved that the power of the American government rests in the hands of its citizens, and that America really is the land of opportunity -- where anyone's dream can come true.

My sister saw a story on the news about an individual who had recently become an American citizen. Yesterday was his first time voting and when he came out of the voting booth, everyone in his polling station started clapping and cheering.

That is the America I love. That is the American I am proud to be a part of, and that is the American that the world needs right now.

I am so proud of our country!
 

Even though my candidate didn't win, you can see my vision of the world. I didn't get excited about the novelty of Obama precisely because I absolutely do not care about skin color. I don't think it's possible for me to care less about skin color, or gender.

But I do appreciate the historic significance. This is the first big step we can take to the day where mentioning someone's skin color has about as much meaning as noting that he/she has ten fingers.

I stayed up to watch McCain's Concession speech. As much as I wanted to go to bed, I also stayed up to hear Obama's speech. It is an historic event. Something I wasn't sure that I would see in my lifetime. And it made me feel good to hear him be gracious and give proper honor and respect to the one person worthy to run against him, debating tactics aside. Even though the electoral vote was a landslide (approx 2 to 1), the popular vote was only a 3 percent difference, Obama leading. And that's why the electoral college works and we keep it that way. I wouldn't change a thing about it.

Our system worked and it worked the way it was supposed to work.

And I, as a citizen, will do what I can to uphold the Constitution and respect him as President of the USA, whether I agree with him, or not. I didn't always like Bush's actions or decisions.

I am also glad to find we have so many people here passionate about how to handle our country, even if we disagree on the particulars.

God bless America, Salome Allah Qum, Blessed Be.

It is my prediction that this administration will run much like other ones and, like this election, we get a little better each time. Remember, you still have 435 reps and 100 sens to go through. Sometimes, we can't get two people to agree on one thing, let alone something as weighty as energy policy and what to do about ethanol. Obama will be as good as most any president, maybe better than some.

I am an educator, and have been studying Social Justice Education for the past couple of years. In my opinion, race DOES matter. Whether it should or shouldn't aside, the fact of the matter is that it does, and for that reason, it cannot be ignored.

There is a belief in (social justice) education in that "color blindness" is detrimental, and essentially, does a disservice to children of color. Deeply ingrained in our society is institutional racism, injustice, and inequality. Denying the fact that race matters also denies the fact that white americans are very much privileged. In order to best meet the needs of the people (in this example, our students) it is important to acknowledge cultural and social differences, and to adjust our teaching practices (differentiated instruction, approaches to teaching, etc.) appropriately.

With regards to this election, I think that to take the stance that race doesn't matter is diminutive and demeaning to the great strides that our country has made. This is not just about african americans, and its a shame that Obama will be looked at as a credit to his race (when has the accomplishment of a white man considered to be a "credit to his race" rather than a personal accomplishment??). IMO, it is really, in essence, a credit to our country, and to the mindset of our people as a whole that have come so very far, but do, indeed, have very far to go.

I hope that my opinion is clear, and not muddled by the parallel I drew to education. This is the context within I generally think about these issues.

ETA: To stay within the context and purpose of this thread, this is what I told my students today:

Regardless of whether or not you believe that Obama is the person best suited to be president, the fact of the matter is that this is a great time in American History, and whats just happened is amazing and wonderful, and we should all be proud to be a part of it.

 I think there are a lot of forum members too  young to remember the chaos of the civil rights movement in the sixties.  My dad was from Georgia - blacks could not be served in white restaurants,  and schools, public restrooms, even water fountains were segregated. Up until 1967 interracial marriage was illegal in this country. That all seems so insane today but unless you can remember those days, you can't really appreciate what a huge step this is.

 Er...actually, I can certainly appreciate what a huge step this is....my age has nothing to do with it. Ergh. I'm tired of hearing how I can't appreciate anything or really know about anything because I wasn't there when it happened. How old does one have to be before they can have legitimate "questioning chops?"

 I was originally commenting on the media's sudden change to talking about race, not trying to insinuate that there *was* no racial aspect.

whtsthfrequency

I'm tired of hearing how I can't appreciate anything or really know about anything because I wasn't there when it happened. How old does one have to be before they can have legitimate "questioning chops?"

She did not say young people didn't know anything...she said young people don't know what it was LIKE then, relative to this topic...and yeah...they don't...I don't. And I'm 34! I think...maybe 33...I forget.

Besides, someone mentioning your age, relative to their own...is not always trying to insult you...they are giving a perspective on where they are coming from.

If you don't like thinking there are things you won't know until you are older, or things you might feel differently about when you're older...well I don't know what to tell you about that. It's true. Whether you're 18 or 25...34 or 68.*shrug*

 Besides, someone mentioning your age, relative to their own...is not always trying to insult you...they are giving a perspective on where they are coming from.

 I didn't think I was being insulted, just passed over a little bit. Perhaps I misinterpreted the tone of the post, but "unless you can remember those days, you can't really appreciate what a huge step this is." came across as people in the younger generations, just because they hadn't physically been there, "cannot appreciate" what a big step this is. Perspective, sure - I am grateful for the perspective of many people older than I - that's how I learn. I guess the post just came across as a bit dismissive -   To me, anyway.

 Apologies if I misinterpreted. I'm not trying to be a wet blanket or start an arguement, I just wanted to say that yes, even though we younger members may not have technically lived through those times, we DO really appreciate what has just happened as being something monumental.

alieliza

take the stance that race doesn't matter is diminutive and demeaning to the great strides

Which sounds as if you are trying to diminish my view. Yeah, I get it, you have an education for the problems of education. And you pushed aside my notion that it shouldn't matter.

Does anyone here know how to win graciously?

FWIW, I think I understand what Alieliza is saying, and I don't think she meant it to diminish anyone's viewpoint at all.

ron2

alieliza

take the stance that race doesn't matter is diminutive and demeaning to the great strides

Which sounds as if you are trying to diminish my view. Yeah, I get it, you have an education for the problems of education. And you pushed aside my notion that it shouldn't matter.

Does anyone here know how to win graciously?

I don't see what being gracious has anything to do with this.  Again THIS IS NOT ABOUT OBAMA OR A "WIN" this is about us American citizens democratically voting in favor of a black President.

I am with alieliza, I think that race ALWAYS matters, and not in ways that makes you prejudge someone, but that you cannot deny its existance and the context in which it influences people.  For me, acknowledging race does NOT mean I think I'm better than a black person, or I voted for Obama just becase he's black, or I think his life was harder than mine just because he's black.  It's simply an acknowledgment that I understand what has happened in the past does create a context for how people are treated today and I understand that I can't presume to say something does or doesn't matter when I've never walked in that person's shoes.

My parents lived through the Great Depression and WWII.  They had a grasp on the feeling of the pulling together as a nation that I can not as a younger person.  And I am hardly young.

I can HEAR about my Grandmother always having a meal for the "tramps" on the railroad but I can't envison a world where it's ok to hop a train car to get from place to place and then knock on a strangers door for a meal.  I can hear about whole neighborhoods pulling together to feed a down in their luck family, but, I have trouble really seeing it  I can hear about the infrequent trips to town for my Dad's parents taking all day because they took the horses and buckboard, but, gosh, town is 6 miles away, so it's hard for me to comprehend.  I can hear about how my schoolteacher grandmother, who suddenly found herself a mom again at the age of 46 would board with her infant at the school where she taught not even two miles away, because it was too hard to travel to and from every day, while Grandpa struggled on with the farm and the harvest with only the help of his good neighbors.  Our society is so different now, that it's pretty hard for me to SEE neighbors helping neighbors in that way, and not as an occassional thing, but as a way of life.

I can hear about the Victory Gardens of WWII, about the saving of any can, any metal, even the chewing gum wrappers.  I can hear about the rationing coupons for so many things, gas, sugar, meats, but I can't put them in context with the society I grew up in.  I lived through Viet Nam where the soldiers where reviled so its hard for ME to concieve of the kind of patriotism Mom talks about during WWII.

Having heard all these things doesn't allow me to fully understand them, to really GET the feelings, the attitudes, etc.  I didn't LIVE them.  So I can understand, accept and believe what I'm told, but those things are all outside of my realm of reality.

Each generation has their own unique set of realities, experiences they have lived through that the next generation just doesn't "GET" on the same level, because we didnt' experience it.  I think that's all that Joyce was saying.

I AM ONE OF THE OLDEST ONES HERE, IF NOT THE OLDEST.  I GREW UP ON A SMALL FARM IN A SMALL TOWN---610 FOLKS WHEN I MARRIED AND LEFT. I AS IN HIGH SCHOOL WHEN JFK RAN FOR OFFICE.  THERE WAS NOT A SINGLE CATHOLIC FAMILY IN OUR AREA AND I REMEMBER PEOPLE SAYG TEY WOULDNOT VOTE FOR A MAN WHO HAD TO TAKE ORDERS FROM THE PPE.  TRUTH BE KNOWN, ALL US METHODIST, BAPTIST, ASSEMBLY OF GOD AND CHURCH OF CHRIST FOLKS (THAT WAS THE4 RCS IMY TO) DINOT KNO AYTNG ABU THE CATHOLC RLEON, ANDFOLKS ST ASSUM THAT EVERYONE HAD T D EXACTLY WHAT THE POPE SAID.  THEREFORE, JFK COULD NOT BE  GOOD PRESIDENT.  I DO NOT KNOW HOW MY PARENTS VOTED, BUT RACE AND RELEGION NEVR MATTERED TO THEM.

I NEVER WENT TO SCHOOL WITH A BLACK CHILD, NOT EVEN WHEN I WENT TO TYLER JUNIOR COLLEGE.  BUT WE HAD BLACK FRIENDS.  MR. PINK SMITH PLOWED FOR MY DAD AND GRANDDAD AND U KIDS FOLLOWED ALONG BEHIND HIM TALKING HIS EAR OFF.  HE WA THE NIECES LITTLE MAN  AND WE NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT HIM BLACK--JUST THAT HE COULD TELL US THE GREATEST STORIES.   NO BLACKS LIVED IN THE CITY LIMITS, BUT DID LIVE IN SOME RENT HOUSES NEXT TO OUR PLACE--A BIG TIME FARME HAD THE RENT HOUSES AND THOWE FOLKS WORKED FOR HIM.  WE OFTEN LAYED WITH THE CHILDREN.

I REMEMBER THE "WHITE" AND "COLORED" WTER FOUNTANS AND RESTROOM.  KNOW SOM,ETHING FUNNY--I WOULD DRINK OUT OF THE COLORED FOUNTAI BECAUE  THOUGHT IT MUST BE SPECIAL WATER!  A BLACK FRIEND OF MINE GOT THE BIGGEST KICK OUT OF THAT STORY.  SHE USE TO SNEAK DRINKS OUT OF THE "WHITE" OUNTAIN BECAUSE SHE THOUGHT THE WATER MUST BE BETTER IF MEAN FOR WHITE FOKS.

BLACKS WERE NOT ALLOWED AT ALL INTO THE POSH TYLER THEATER.  THEY WRE ALLOWED INT HE ARCADIA AND THE LIBERTY.  BUT----THEY WER NOT ALLOWED TO COME IN THE FRONT NOR SIT ON THE MAIN FLOOR.  THEY HAD TO GO IN THRU A SIDE DOOR AND SIT UPSTAIRS.  THEY WEE NOT ALLOWED TO EVEN COME DOWN TO GET STUFF FROM THE CONCESION STAND.  I DO NOT KNOW IF THEY WERE ALLOWED IN THE DRIVE-IN MOIES OR NOT BUT I NEVER SAW ANY THERE.

THEY COULD NOT EAT IN THE "WHITE" RESTURANTS--BUT COULD BE COOKS AND DISHWAHSER.  MY DAD'S CUSIN'S WIFE WENT TO WORK AN HIRED A BLACK BLACK LADY TO COOK AND CLEAN AND WATCH ER 3 KIDS.   ONE DAY LOUISE WAS TELLING MOM THAT "SOME *** WOMAN HAD COME INTO THE CAFE WHERE SHE WAS EATING LUNCH AND WANTED TO BE SERVED.  IMAGINE THE NERVE, A *** WANTING TO EAT WITH WHITE FOLK>"  MADE MY MOM SO MAD.  SHE SAID SHE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY IF IT WAS OKAY FOR  A COLORED PERSON (THAT WAS THE TERM BACK THEN, NO BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN) PERSON COULD WATCH HER KIDS,CLEAN HER HOUSE COOK HER MEALS---WHY WAS IT SO WRONG FOR A COLORED PERSON TO EAT IN A RESTUARANT WITH WHITE PEOPLE--AND CHANCES ARE THE FOOD HAD BEEN PREPARED BY A COLORED  PERSON IN THAT CAFE.

SUMMER OF '61 I WAS TO WATCH MY DAD'S YOUNGET BROTHER'STWO KIDS.  I WAS 16, THEY WERE 4 AND6.  MY AUNT HAD A BLACK LADY COME IN ONCE A WEEK AND IRON FOR HER.  WELL, THE FIRST TIME MISS EFFIE WS THERE AT LUNCH TIME, I MADE TUNA SANDWICHS, FRENCH FRIENS AND BAKED BEANS FOR LUNCH AND ASKED HER TO JOIN US.  SHE AGREED BUT WAS GOING TO EAT TANDING UP IN THE KITCHEN.  I TOLD HERNO, SIT AT THE TBLE WITH US.  SHE DID.  MY AUNT FOUND OUT FROM THE KIDS--AND I WAS REPLACED AS THE BABY SITTER THAT SUMMER.  EVER AFTR THT I HAD VERY LITTLE TO DO WITH HER.

SO YOU CAN SEE THINGS HAVE COME A LONG WAY SINCE MY YOUTH.

 I haven't read all of the political threads because I've been out of town and such. I have to say though, that I actually smiled for the first time with regards to our country, when Obama won. Over the last 8 years, there has not been much to smile about: skyrocketing gas prices, jobs being shipped over seas, the american automotive industry collapsing, the housing bubble bursting, the rising cost of goods and services, etc. My state has been particularly hit hard by the economic crisis and I have become increasingly disenchanted with our politicians in Washington (and my own state for that matter). The Bush administration gives off an image of being completely unaware and dismissive of the struggles of the people that make up the middle class and below. The McCain party looked to me to be following in their foot steps. They were 2 steps behind the Obama campaign in acknowledging the problems that face every day americans. The thought of another "Bush" being elected was really scary to me.

There was no way that I was going to miss voting in this election and I'm soooooo happy at the result. Obviously millions of americans felt the same way considering the large numbers that turned out in the polls.

I'm not niave enough to think that things will change over night or that Obama is going to be successful in changing everything, but at least there's hope.

As far as race goes. I smiled about that too. A glass ceiling has been broken. I know what the good ol' boy network is like and, believe it or not, there are limitations for those that don't fit in to that network. It is really great to see that this country is not afraid to break from the mold.

*cheers*