Here We Stand

I don't think I need to say it: we all know that something knew began last Tuesday. Somehow, there's something in the air. As Jon Stewart said, there was eye contact, smiling, and nodding on the streets of NYC. I think most of would never have said that one election, one night, could have changed the country and the world so entirely. I know it has changed me. I am in awe of the change that I see inside me. My entire political life has been about cynicism, hopelessness, and a feeling that there's no way to change the world and we're headed for a very nasty doom.

All that changed in the most explosive, magnificent, moving moment when I stood in the student center at Bennington College with a crowd of tense, excited college students, and we saw Barack Obama's face on the screen with the words, "President Elect." I feel that this was the second truly Historic Moment in my life, the first, of course, being 9/11. I don't know what to say that won't be a cliche of something we've all heard in the past few days. This IS history, and not just world history, but personal history. I think each of us has been changed. For the first time, I am TRULY feeling the powerful connecting ability of the internet. I've often thought that we're not utilizing this incredible gift of connection as much as we could be; now, at long last, I feel that we're jolting out of our apathy. It only takes a single breeze of hope to breathe new life into a nation.

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Comment by AK on November 7, 2008 at 9:59pm: Well.. in my opinion, there are two kinds of people ..

ONE ::: Who thinks the world is hopeless, nothing is possible , no one is there for hand holding OR to be there to listen ( not hear .. mind you.. listing is way different than hearing)

SECOND :::: Who for some reason, thinks similar to the 1st Kind .. but then.. WAKES UP.. Fights Back ..and "MAKES A PLACE FOR SELF"

When I read your blog.. I could see you as the PERSON of the second category.. who seems to be a person who can not just GIVE UP. I read all your replies..as well a person like you always make a difference, COZ you can empathize.

I can relate it very well.. as I had some moments in my life when I felt .. nothing will move .. but then.. by just a strike of some inspiration .. I am back on track..

and OBAMA .. proved it to the world .. that if we are sincere .. honest .. and we mean what we think & speak.. one can create a HISTORY...

May PEACE BE WITH YOU.

Comment by Joe Marshalla on November 7, 2008 at 9:59pm: I love it... "When I'm elected I promise..." it's soooooo true!

Comment by Kestrel on November 7, 2008 at 9:48pm: Thank you for your comments! I'm so glad to connect with you folks! And yes, thank god, no one is an island.

Comment by tan eng kiat on November 7, 2008 at 9:33pm: Hi Kestrel,thank you for adding me to your page,I am one who is not good with politics but i am not sure why people spend huge sum of money to get into power,for the money can be put to better use.I've come across a picture with a little girl asking her grannie-Gannie,do all fairy tales begin with'Once Upon A time'? and her grannie replies-There is a whole series of fairy tales that begin with.'When Elected I Promise.' But lets hope for the best and pray hard.May you be happy and healthy.I believe in No man is an island.

Comment by FRANCOISE on November 7, 2008 at 8:29pm: Really something important happened and people find hope again
on Facebook Gordon J Millar open a group" Barack Obama ~ a new hope for world peace" and in one day this group had 5000 members , it is amazing
Thank you Kestrel for your message which bring us also much happyness because it is written with your heart and with a happy heart

Comment by Joe Marshalla on November 7, 2008 at 7:50pm: Here we stand... and then here we stand... and then here and then here. For thirty years I have been working and waiting for this birth in concsiousness and I feel the change of which you speak. Thank you for so elequently espressing our feelings. Joe

Comment by Kestrel on November 7, 2008 at 7:50pm: Thank you to all three of you for your lovely comments. I have only just joined iPeace, and already it has so much more meaning to me than Facebook or any other online networking community. Because we all join with a common goal, a common dream, I feel such a strong and instantaneous bond between us. There is *meaning* in the connections we are making here, I feel. It is also more inspiring and moving than I can ever say for this young American to look out across the world and see such love and support from the international community. My country has been hurting, in both senses of the word: we have been hurting others, and we have been hurting inside. The past eight years have been more demoralizing and shaming to us than I could explain to you. I think what many of us want more than anything now from the world is forgiveness. We hunger for connection, understanding, and equality. It is so beautifully gratifying to begin making these lovely connections with you all on iPeace. This is when I praise the internet the most.

Peace to you, your families, and your countries.

~Kestrel

Comment by care4u on November 7, 2008 at 7:00pm: Couple of days ago I picked my grandchild (8.10 y/o, 3rd class) from school to our home and on our way I've asked him "do you know what 'history' means?" and the young man replied in confidence "sure, grandpa, things that happened in the past, a long time ago". - "Right", I said, …"but today (Nov.5, 2008) history has been made in America; the first Afro-American president has been elected and his name is Barack Obama; have you heard of him?" "No" said the boy, wondering about the new meaning for History. And I added that if an important event is happening now, a profound event (I've used simpler language of course), then we say that history has been made.
Later on when we reached home and our grandchild sat to the table for lunch grandma asked him if he had heard about the new president of The United States and the boy replied "Sure, and it wasn't from grandpa' : ))
God bless the president of America and the children of our world.

Comment by Michael Bentley on November 7, 2008 at 6:33pm: Dear Kestrel
Thanks for adding me as a friend. I so hope you're right about Obama; he has some huge campaign promises to live up to, but it's a very big relief that McCain and Palin didn't succeed, and that America has voted decisively against the militarist policies of the previous administration.
I like the Einstein quote on your profile, too! Take care - with all best wishes.
Michael

Comment by pixiemb on November 7, 2008 at 6:39am: I was hoping that Obama would be elected as I felt there would be a great uplifting of spirit for many people. Just knowing there is one person who feels this way is fantastic. The interesting thing I feel is that most of the world, as would I, would have voted Obama in at around 80%. I respect his immediate actions and hope to see a revitalised brighter USA. peace will be very important at this point in time with groups already feeling the push against their prejudices - we live in interesting times