Barack Obama's Acceptance Speech

    I rarely get a chance to submit an entry to our blog, let alone work on the computer when our grandsons are here, as I'm often tuckered out by the time we have tucked them into bed.  Tonight is a different matter, though.  I am so full of energy.  It's as if I'm on a caffeine high.  What is going on?

    This week, the Democratic National Convention has been taking place in Denver, Colorado.  Yesterday, roll call was taken as each state announced who they chose as their Presidential nominee.  When it was New Yourk's turn, Senator Hillary Roddam Clinton stood up and declared that roll call be suspended, and that a unanimous vote be taken.  Not only did an overwhelming majority of delegates unanimously vote for Senator Barack Obama, but if there was anybody who opposed, I certainly did not hear them voice their opposition.  Then, earlier this evening at about 9:00 PM Central time, Senator Barack Obama gave his acceptance speech.  Leading up to the moment that he gave his speech, though, the crowd of eighty-five to ninety thousand people at the convention in a football stadium that only fit about seventy thousand people rallied.  Various short speeches were given by other Senators as well as by Obama's chosen Vice-Presidential running mate, Joe Biden.  There were also performances by Stevie Wonder followed by Michael MacDonald.  I do not remember what song Stevie Wonder performed first, but the next song to follow, Stevie dedicated to Barack and his wife, Michelle.  The song was called "Signed Sealed Delivered".  As Micaiah ben Malachi was getting dinner ready for our grandsons, our nineteen-month-old and four-year-old grandsons, and I held hands as we danced to the song in the middle of our living room floor.  Of course, the children loved it because they could be wild for a little bit indoors.  In my case, the excitement was the historical moment, that being Barack Obama being the first African-American ever to be nominated by delegates of any party (Democratic in this case) to be on the Presidential ticket on Election Day.  As political analysts on CNN talked, I could hear people rallying in the background and music playing in between the speeches.  One of the songs I heard was Whitehead and McFadden's "Ain't NO Stoppin' Us Now", which came out in the 1970's and has been an ongoing theme song during and after the Civil Rights Movement for people of color.  I had already tucked our grandson's into bed, but I still could not help but dance in my easy chair to the song.  Not only were they playing the twelve-inch version, but they could not have picked a more fitting song for the occasion.  (Only those familiar with the old vinyl records would understand my reference to the twelve-inch version.)  I was so into the spirit that I wished that we were there or, at least, that our VCR worked for us to have recorded the whole program, including Obama's speech.  The rallying and high spirits I felt was like when I was watching the World Series in 1987 and 1991, and rooting for the Minnesota Twins.  Even then, I wished that I was at the games.  As Wolfe Blitzer and Anderson talked, they spoke about this historical moment and how people would be chatting about where they were the evening they listened to Barack Obama's acceptance speech.  Not only did I reflect on where I was and how I would relate this historical moment to the future generations of people, but I thought of our grandsons reading about this special evening and watching videos about it in history class.  If they came to Micaiah ben Malachi and I to tell us that they were reading about Barack Obama and this special evening, I would be telling them excitedly that they were in our house, dancing in the middle of our living room floor with me before Obama gave his speech.  My moment of excitement and chills running down my spine would be no different from those who were sitting in front of their TV's on August 28, 1963, listening to Martin Luther King Jr. give his "I Have A Dream" speech.  I am quite sure that those who have related that experience of 1963 to their children and grandchildren felt what I would feel tomorrow and the many years to come as I relate this evening's special occasion.

    As for Barack Obama's speech, itself.  His main focus was on the many promises that were broken to families in all walks of life.  Not only did he outline in clear detail what he wanted to do during his presidency, but he emphasized the fact that all of us citizens had to work together with the government to help each other and ourselves.  Neither the US government nor US citizens alone could do the work without the other's help.  I am excited to vote for him, and I hope that he wins the election.  My only concern, however, is that Congress could hold up many of the policies he wants to implement and laws he wants passed; thus, many things not being accomplished.  For now, though, let us keep the excitement alive and hope for the best.  If he wins the election, my excitement would be similar to when the Minnesota Twins won the World Series in 1987 and 1991!!!

Makedah bat Leah