Yes. We. Can.
November 5, 2008I felt like I was part of something special last night. Involuntarily, I was counting his stress points in each sentence. I forgot my friends around me. For some mysterious reason, I spoke along with the Lincoln quote, a quote that I happen to know by heart. You know what?
I felt American.
We were all witnesses to something remarkable last night. In 20 years, my kids are going to ask me where I was.
The part of the speech that touched me most was the following. It’s as if he was talking directly to my friends and I, huddled up around a huge flatscreen TV, on the other side of the Atlantic, our bodies kept going by what the rattling coffee machine provided us with.
And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of our world - our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand. To those who would tear this world down - we will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security - we support you. And to all those who have wondered if America’s beacon still burns as bright - tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope.
Beautiful. Just beautiful. I’m not used to getting slightly emotional because of someone’s speech, but this one certainly did it. You know what? I’m gonna do it.
YES. WE. CAN.
Sure, it’s about blody time it happened but the thing is, no matter who had won it would have been an improvement on the current situation.
Personally I felt hungry when i found out. I sure didnt feel any more american then I usually do. Not that I ever feel american in the first place.
Can what? Finally, after numerous other democratic nations has had female and racial minority leaders for decades, elect a guy who isn’t an old white dude to presidency?
Hurrah for being the “leader of the free world” ;)
Comment by Soulbender — November 5, 2008 @ 1:33 pm
I just watched the entire speech again. Tough man as I am, I will admit in all honesty that I got tears in my eyes. When a single man can do that to me with just a speech, there is no question about how unique that man has to be. Therefore I have to agree with you that for the first time in my life, I felt American. I even regretted the fact that I was unable to vote, something that has never happened to me here in Holland.
A very special night indeed, and I was proud to be part of it.
Comment by Martin — November 5, 2008 @ 2:18 pm
That’s cool Obama, now leave the world alone and clean up your own mess first.
Comment by herman — November 5, 2008 @ 3:33 pm
Silly European.
Comment by George — November 6, 2008 @ 7:08 am
America has survived bad presidents before, and we’ll survive this one. This will be Jimmy Carter #2. This much liberal politics, and in 4 years we’ll put a real conservative in to fix things. Regan did it before, and someone else will do it again.
John McCain was a failure because he was never a true conservative. Maybe Palin in 2012.
Comment by John S. — November 7, 2008 @ 1:42 am
[blockquote]John McCain was a failure because he was never a true conservative. [/blockquote]
Yes, we noticed since he was perfectly sane.
Comment by Soulbender — November 7, 2008 @ 9:32 am