the day after

[grayhawkfh]

"Definition of insanity: Doing the same thing again and again and expecting different results each time." - Author unknown

“If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten.” - Anthony Robbins

I woke up this morning, and even in my groggy, sleep-deprived state, I could feel...something...in the air. Something new. Something different.

Last night, I had the good fortune to witness a historic moment. A moment that will have repercussions for years to come.

Not that a man of African-American heritage became the new President of the United States, although that certainly was a truly significant moment. As I saw elsewhere on LJ, though I cannot find it and or remember the attribution:

Rosa sat so Martin could walk.
Martin walked so Barack could run.
Barack ran so our children could fly

And if someone could point out the proper person/place to attribute this to, I'd be most appreciative.

No, the moment I refer to is that the country stood up as one and said that there needs to be a change. That the way things have been run for the last 8 years (and, truthfully, for longer than that) is no longer acceptable.

Here's the part that many won't want to hear: Change isn't fun, isn't quick, and it isn't painless. But change is necessary if we want to give our children, our grandchildren, our families, our friends, each other, ourselves the kind of America we can all be proud of, it's going to take some pain and growing. It will take sacrifice and hard work and sweat.

About an hour ago, my kids woke up to a new America. An America rejuvenated by hope. Hope for a better tomorrow. Hope that we can not only weather our current crises but come out on the other side stronger for the experience.

I know I'm willing to work to keep that going for them. I hope that you are as well.

Comments

[scottishdiva.livejournal.com]

*Cheers* to your words, wise words.

Congratulations to the USA and the New President :)

[rileybear67.livejournal.com]

merseine0613 wrote that in her journal yesterday.

[keithdb.livejournal.com]

That's a neat sentiment, but I would add at least one more line in there. A lot happened between King and Obama. What I would add is this:

Rosa sat so Martin could walk.
Martin walked so Jesse could run.
Jesse ran so Barack could win.
Barack won so our children could fly.

I don't particularly like Jesse Jackson, but his importance in breaking the ground for this moment really shouldn't be forgotten, IMO.

[delazan.livejournal.com]

I have a link to the NPR story with that quote on my LJ post yesterday.
-L.

[nostasia.livejournal.com]

I'm excited and hopeful again. But yeah, there is huge amount of work to do. I hope most people realize that there won't be any quick fixes. We have to start looking at the long term instead of insisting on only looking at the short term.