All Around the World, It's a Love Thing
In Ghana, where friend-of-the-blog Tayari Jones is currently sojourning as a keynote speaker at the Pan African Writers' Association’s 16th International African Writers’ Day Celebrations in Accra, a pop-tune smash is devoted to our U.S. presidential candidate: "I got a crush on Obama. In 2008, Baby you're the best candidate!" Obama merchandise--t-shirts, hats, buttons--is the merchandise people want there, and the conference is going to include a big election-watching party and celebration breakfast from midnight (due to the time difference) to dawn, because people there are so engaged with the outcome of this election that they want to be up all night to see it happen. Tayari was introduced as the "Lady from the Land of Obama."
So it's not only Berlin and France and the European world that are excited about our brilliant, calm, big-thinking, forward-looking young candidate. This is global.
James and I just got back from voting. We were lucky; the line at our downtown polling place was only about ten minutes long. A very enthusiastic young guy (were his eyes flashing Obama! Obama!--or was I beginning to hallucinate?) explained the ballots, and bing-bang-boom, we were done and heading down the street to get our free I-voted cups of coffee from Starbucks. We held hands all the way (who knew voting could be romantic?), and at one corner, I actually found myself bouncing while waiting for the light to turn green.
I am so nervous that something will go awry, but I'm also excited. I think we're going to do it this time. Tengo fe.
So it's not only Berlin and France and the European world that are excited about our brilliant, calm, big-thinking, forward-looking young candidate. This is global.
James and I just got back from voting. We were lucky; the line at our downtown polling place was only about ten minutes long. A very enthusiastic young guy (were his eyes flashing Obama! Obama!--or was I beginning to hallucinate?) explained the ballots, and bing-bang-boom, we were done and heading down the street to get our free I-voted cups of coffee from Starbucks. We held hands all the way (who knew voting could be romantic?), and at one corner, I actually found myself bouncing while waiting for the light to turn green.
I am so nervous that something will go awry, but I'm also excited. I think we're going to do it this time. Tengo fe.
James said:
I just watched, for the first time, Obama's keynote address at the 2004 DNC--the beginning of it all. Eloquent, compassionate, inclusive. The keynote at the 2008 RNC? Rudy Giuliani, snickering about community organizers. Rudy Giuliani. How is this race even close? How can *anyone* who's listened to the Republican's negative, fear-mongering, xenophobic campaign believe that that's the way forward, that that's our best hope for the future?
Landslide, please.
November 4, 2008 6:53 PMMr. Boston said:
James, I have often thought of these keynotes, and the contrast between them. The "anyone" who listens is becoming more and more strange to me since I even managed to convert my family - you may remember them. I am not embarrassed to say it is my greatest achievement. I'm sure you will enjoy the evening.
November 4, 2008 8:57 PMFaye said:
Greetings from the "bluest of the blue" states (Massachusetts). 7 p.m. here in two minutes and the results will begin coming in. The line was short when I voted at 7 a.m. this morning, but lines around the state had record numbers of voters. There was a lot of excitement even though Massachusetts hasn't gone for a Republican since 1984 and isn't likely to do so anytime soon. Apparently schoolchildren in some of the urban neighborhoods were chanting, "Obama, Obama" at voters lined up on the sidewalks next to their schools. Let's hope it's a good night!
November 4, 2008 11:59 PM