I would be remiss if I didn’t post this, because Mr. Olbermann says almost everything I would have posted about Prop 8, or the other amendments that passed, and how I feel about them.
Despite what many people think, our country is slowly becoming more and more progressive. I was reading a report a few days ago showing that every year, on issues related to homosexuality, more and more people’s opinions are changing. Remember when whether gays could serve in the military was such a huge issue? The whole “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” thing? Now, more than half the country (as well as some prominent leaders within the military) believe that gays should be allowed to serve, with no conditions or restrictions. (I really wish I could find that link!!)
Similar things are happening with gay marriage. Though the majority of the country still opposes it, each year the percentage of people objecting to it decreases. I think that as the overall makeup of our country changes - especially as the Millennials become the policy makers and thought leaders - it’s going to continue to decrease. I think that one day this is going to be a national Constitutional issue, and I think that, like Canada, a majority of people will finally get it: this isn’t about marriage. This is about equal rights and equal opportunity under the law. An equal opportunity to spend your life with the person you love, and to receive all of the rights and privileges that come with that.
Honestly? I think the term “marriage” and all of its trappings should be turned over to the church. I think all unions should be civil unions - no matter who you are. The meaning of marriage has gotten so twisted in our society that I think it’s irreparable. If you love someone, who cares what you call it? It’s the love that’s important - not the title.
Stop being stupid, people. No one is asking you to endorse, condone, applaud, or even accept gay people, gay culture, or gay marriage. No gay person needs your validation. However every person needs your compassion, your common sense, and your decency. If you can give us that, we will all have a much better world.
President Obama. President Obama. President Obama. President-Elect Obama. President Obama.
I feel like Celie in The Color Purple- my smile is so big I can’t contain it. It spreads across my face every time I think about it. Every time I say it. President Obama.
Even after they called Pennsylvania I held on to my cynicism. When they called Ohio and Virginia, I started to maybe-kinda-sorta believe. When they made the announcement, I laughed, and then I cried. And cried and cried and cried.
I cried primarily for my grandparents. Each of my parents lost one parent when they were young, and one when they were parents themselves. My mother’s mother (Granny) and my father’s father (Pop Pop) had an incredible impact on who I am today. Granny because she helped raise me. While my Mom worked typical 9-5 hours in jobs that were always too small for who she really was, my grandmother kept me, fed me, taught me. She taught me how to have compassion, how to cook, how to play scrabble, how to tell someone to kiss your ass without saying “kiss my ass”, when you say “kiss my ass” anyway, how to drink (scotch on ice was her drink of choice), and how to love unconditionally - especially family (no matter how full of shit they are, as she would say).
Pop Pop taught me about the value of education. He and my grandmother sent all of their children to Morgan State, even though neither of them had gotten past middle school. He taught me about entrepreneurship. By the time I came along, he was the owner and operator of “Ocean City Taxi” - at the time one of the only cab companies serving the Ocean City, MD area. My grandfather ran his business from the head of his kitchen table, sitting in the chair closest to the side door of the house and only a step from the CB radio (which sat on top of the dishwasher). I learned about management, cash handling, employee relations, and customer service watching him hold court in that chair. He made me want to own my own business one day - a desire that has never left me.
I called my Mom after the intial celebration, still crying. She said that she thought this would happen in my lifetime, but never in hers. I remember sitting on her bed in 2004 watching Barack Obama give his speech to the DNC. We had heard good things about him, and wanted to see what all of the fuss was about. Neither of us had any idea that we would be here, four years later, having played a part in electing that charismatic and inspirational Congressman as our next President.
I called my Dad, still crying, and he was crying too (my Dad and I are soft touches). He said that his parents would have never imagined that this would have happened. And that’s the thing - neither would I. I still, on some level, can’t believe it. I can’t believe the country came through. I can’t believe that we showed everyone the Joe the Plumber <> America. I can’t believe we proved that not all of us listen to the smallest and meanest parts of ourselves. I can’t believe that the next President of the United States looks something like me.
And what better person to represent America? He’s a person of color. He’s multiracial. He’s educated. His father was an immigrant. He was raised by a single mother and by his grandparents. Barack Obama is America. He represents us, with all of our contradictions and our strengths.
I hope all of us, on all sides and of all persuasions, take Barack Obama’s words to heart. We have to work together. As I tweeted at some point last night, it is officially time for us to stop fucking around. I took a step: for the first time in 8 years of working here, I’m going to participate in a volunteer oppurtunity offered by my job. I’ll be spending a couple hours at the Giant Food in Waverly, helping collect food for the Maryland Food Bank. It’s a small step, but all it takes are a lot of small steps. There are a lot of us that make up this country. Maybe together we can make it truly great.
I don’t think I hit 30 new things in 30 days, but I did do a lot of things I’ve never done, and I hit a lot of my goals. That felt pretty good.
I also realized I need to re-examine my “30 by 30″ list. My priorities are changing. Again.
Got a lot of new music - mostly good. I said to someone on twitter that I wish that we could take Solange’s songwriting and production and put it with Jennifer Hudson’s voice. Instead I get a Solange album that I like in theory but refuse to buy because I can not stand her voice, and a Jennifer Hudson album that has a T. Pain duet. You heard/read right: a T. Pain duet. Lord give me strength.
I finally have internet at home. Sprint has debuted a new service in Baltimore called XOHM, and I decided to take advantage of their introductory offer (the service is $10 cheaper a month for the 1st 6 months). So far I really like it!
So, expect to hear more from me. I have a post about Hurricane Sasha Fierce (a.k.a. Beyonce - and I’m not making fun of her - that’s the name she’s give her alter ego) brewing, and I’ll get it up tonight.
I just felt like dropping a quick line to say *Nettie voice* I AM NOT DEAD!
