Part IV - Yes. We. Can.

God bless Barack Obama and Joe Biden. God bless the United States of America.

Where were you when...

As I watched the news this morning and they were talking about the upcoming 7th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, I was thinking about the events that have shaped the lives of this generation. My parents' generation can likely recall where they were when MLK and JFK were killed...when the first man walked on the moon...the Vietnam War...the day when certain music greats died - Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, Buddy Holly...and more.


What were the big (non-personal) events that still remain so sharp to me that I can remember my exact location when I heard? Here's what I got:

• The Space Shuttle Challenger crashed (Jan 1986) - I was in the 3rd grade. I, my classmates and my third grade teacher Mr. A, sat around the radio listening to the launch, excited about both Ronald McNair and the teacher Christa McAuliffe who were on board. When the space shuttle crashed we were devastated.




• The OJ Simpson verdict was announced (Sept 1995) - I was in my freshman year at college, in a sociology class of all places. They had brought in a tv so we could all watch the outcome. The whole case was crazy.




• Biggie was killed (March 1997) - Maybe I'm weird for remembering this, but I do. I was in college and it was spring break. We had gone home with my friend to SC for the week. The tv was on in the living room and they made the announcement...we just stood there with our mouths hanging open.

• Aaliyah's Plane Crashed (August 2001) - I was living in NC. I had fallen asleep with the tv on and around 4 am or so I heard them say that Aaliyah had been in a plane that crashed. I thought it was a dream until I woke up fully and saw it on several stations.
  
  

• Sept 11th attacks (Sept 2001) - I was living in NC, sitting on the couch watching tv when the news started coming across. I was so confused about what was going on that I called my childhood friend who was also living in NC at the time. We stayed on the land line with each other while trying to call home on our cell phones. We were terrified.


• Barack Obama elected as president (Nov 2008) - I'll be at a victory party!! :)

I'm sure there are more, but these are the one's that immediately come to mind. Perhaps strange, perhaps not.

Do you remember where you were when these things happened?

Yes. We. Can.

The DNC Continues

I said I wasn't going to write about the DNC everyday, so I'll try to make this entry short. (I swear...from staying up late watching the Olympics to staying up late watching the DNC and after chatter...I need a nap!)

I made it through most of Hillary Clinton's speech before dozing off. I thought she did a great job. It's funny because watching the analysts breaking down her speech afterwards, they were searching for anything to attack. So they said, hey she never actually said that Barack would make a great president. Seriously? I mean, Hillary could have gotten an Obama tattoo on her neck and that wouldn't have been enough for them. Politics is a business and she's a business woman. She made it clear that she was down for the cause. She let people know that this was not about her, but about something greater. And for all those who voted for her, she called them to recognize that (what she hopes) they were voting for were her beliefs and goals for the country. And if they were, then Obama has those same beliefs and goals, so it's time to transfer that vote.

I was watching CNN and someone interviewed this one black woman who was a delegate (can't remember from where). But, this woman was so emotional and adamant about Hillary. Like her life was over because Hillary was not on the ticket. I understand the hardcore support. But, I think this is where we get stuck. We stay trying to hold on to some stuff long after the relevancy of it has passed. The bottom line is that there will be two candidates running for president. Obama and McCain. And while your preferred candidate may not still be in the running, it is important to vote between the two that remain. We must choose the one who is closest to what we believe and what we want for this country. Withholding your vote in protest because someone else isn't there is a waste of time and cutting off your nose to spite your face. Because either way, one of those two men is going to end up in the White House.

So, let's get ourselves together people. Evaluate the two final candidates. Watch the Democratic National Convention this week and the Republican National Convention next week. Do some research.

Barack Obama - http://www.barackobama.com/index.php
John McCain - http://www.johnmccain.com/

Try to look through all of the rhetoric and tom foolery of the ads and the spin of the political analysts. Look for where they stand on the issues most important to you...the economy, healthcare, Iraq, education, poverty, foreign policy, humanitarian efforts - domestic and international, HIV/AIDS, etc.

And after you do that, most importantly, VOTE for whichever one most exemplies how you want to live for the next four years. Come on folks, let's get it.

Okay...*stepping down off my soapbox*