Thank Goodness!

After classes, Will and I spent the evening watching the election results from a pub on campus with some students and fellow teachers. Even our recently arrived international students were caught up in the event. We explained electoral voting and the results and eagerly cheered every time a new state was called. When the election was called for Obama, there was screaming and when he spoke, there were even some tears. It was a very emotional time. On the ride home, we noticed bikers sharing the good news on the street and cabbies rolling down their windows to pass on the results. People were just so damn happy!

I am relieved eight long years of presidential bumbling around is finally coming to an end. I can only hope Obama can tackle the mess that's been left behind- two wars, the housing and economic crises, and a lack of support and respect of the international community. I have no illusions. He's no wonder child . Politics have a tendency to corrupt and this system is bigger and slower to change than one man. However, I do hope he can follow through on some of the ideals he been talking about through out this campaign. It would be nice to see a government that isn't paralyzed by words like 'taxes' and 'social services' and that takes care of its own with better schools, health care, veterans benefits, and affordable universities simply because it's the right thing to do. It would be nice if policies worked for the benefit of all and not only for those who are deemed 'patriotic' and 'moral' enough by the right wing establishment. It would be nice to have an inclusive government, domestically and internationally. Mainly, it would simply be nice to have a change after the last 8 years. I would take that over George Bush any day. With Obama at the helm, I may dare to hope for a little more than just simple change. I am also hopeful because more people were willing to vote for change than those out there who were still voting based on fear.

You've been warned; Will's talking citizenship after the first term of our Green Cards comes up. We'll see how things work out, but in the afterglow of an Obama win, I don't seem to mind the ideas as much as I used to. :)