On the left is the front-page cover of a Paris paper. Libération says it best and most succinctly with “YES.” We’ve not only done America proud, but the rest of the world too.
Lately, I’ve turned nearly all my social media accounts into some sort of a political platform; even if Michelle Obama wasn’t DM-ing me on Twitter, I would have hash-tagged #Obama2012 until the last voting hours of Election Day. And for a primarily/self-proclaimed “fashion“-focused blog—the term is used loosely here, it’s undeniably 360. It also seems selfish to blab on about designer x and lust-list item number 34293 (and counting) when there’s so devastation right now. In any case, however, ABC is a bit of everything. To flirt with life and live fully is to do so with all the things that affect us: politics inclusive. Knowledge is power, involvement is strength.
And yesterday, I was able to do something.
I don’t think I’ve ever been happier or prouder to call myself an American—a real, participating citizen of the United States—than I was at midnight. I voted for the first time, and my voice counted. I voted for me, for my beliefs, for women. It took seventy years from day one of the women’s suffrage movement to get this right to vote in 1920, and in 2012, we made our predecessors proud. We’re women, loud and proud, hear us roar. Fifty-six percent of yesterday’s voters were women!
Four years ago I was devastated that I couldn’t vote for Barack Obama. I hadn’t been that inspired by a political figure since watching Street Fight (2005) in a civics class; I remember reading his first memoir, Dreams From My Father, and following his career thereafter. (His second book, while equally inspiring, was written with the intent (this is personal opinion) of readying himself for presidential candidacy.) His story resonates with me: dare I say I felt hopeful one he was declared a 2008 candidate? After all, the past is what drives your future and your philosophy: you build from it. Here was a man who possessed the ability to not only lead, but to also inspire and ignite passion within the hearts of so many people including the cynics who once doubted government. They threw aside apathy for volunteer badges! They believed again. And in a society where Twitter is our equivalent of a coffeehouse catch-up session and aloofness is equated to je ne sais quoi coolness, participation and passion are hard to come by. Barack Obama found that fire and lit it.
“That’s why we do this. That’s what politics can be. That’s why elections matter. It’s not small, it’s big. It’s important. Democracy in a nation of 300 million can be noisy and messy and complicated. We have our own opinions. Each of us has deeply held beliefs. And when we go through tough times, when we make big decisions as a country, it necessarily stirs passions, stirs up controversy.”
—Barack Obama, 2012
I voted. It may not be 2008, but it’s 2012. It’s the now, the present, for tomorrow, for the future. It’s about chance and moving forward. And it’s all I could ever ask for, really: having my voice heard and have it count. Here’s the champion of the career woman, the kids, the youth, the LBGT community, the Americans. Our voice was heard. He made us care about our government again.
Here’s to another four years.
… and I’ll go back to regular programming, promise.
. . .
Read the full transcript of his victory speech, here, or watch it here. It’s one of his best yet.
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Yay! I’m very happy with this year’s election. It’s important to have a strong opinion and to find something admiral about our leaders.