Welcome to my world

This poem has shaped my thinking for the past 10 years.  I saw it performed for the first time in 1995 in Ann Arbor Michigan at the National Poetry Slam.  My friend Jess and I went for the afternoone to check it out, and were sitting in Not Another Cafe on South U.  It was amazing.  All of the poets from all over, performing their hearts to a room full of strangers.  I have NEVER forgotten the power of that afternoon.  Patricia Smith was one of the performers, and as she came to the stage she performed her piece – Skinhead.  It’s one the hardest poem’s for me to hear, or read.  But it really is the most powerful.  I thought I might share this with you all…hopefully it will move you as much as it has always moved me!

Here’s a link to the wording for you to read as well….

Doesn’t even begin to describe the elation and the emotion that I feel this morning.  It’s amazing how much our country came together and came out so support the candidate of their choice.  To stand up and say this is how I feel.  I am completely amazed, awed, and feel a renewed hope for our country.   Congratulations to President-Elect Obama!  What an awe inspiring evening, and an amazing change for our country.  I can finally say that I am Opotomistic instead of Cautiously hopeful!

I think the cliche’s aside – what has caught all the emotion in my throat the past 24 hours are these 2 issues:  1. When I was a child, I heard all about the struggles of the 60’s.  The demonstrations, the race issues, the sex issues, etc.  The fighting and struggles that had gone on before I was born.  I heard about this from my parents, my family, thier friends, my teachers and read about it in the history books.  And I think what is the most amazing part of this to me, is that not only are we watching history be created, we activley participated in it’s creation.  I was in the voting booth and in line yesterday.  I have followed this race closely, and done reasearch on it.  I have argued my point and my feels with friends, and family.  And in the end – I was a part of this.  In 15 years to 20 years, when my future children are reading the history books, I am going to be able to say to them…Mommy was there.  This is what it was like, these were the issues, this was the backlash.  2.  The fact that we have now come full circle!    How amazing is this.

Historical footnotes aside…there is a part of me that just must say Nyanna Nyanna Nyanna!

Good Morning Everyone!

I awoke this morning to 45 degress and dark outside.  Got up at 6 am, showered, and got ready and headed out to my precint to vote.  What a fantastic situation.  I only had to wait 45 minutes, and interestingly enough I was #45…maybe I should buy a lotto ticket tonight!!!!  I have heard so much about voting over the past 2 years, who you going to vote for, are you going to vote, etc.  And it got me thinking.   In 2000 I had the opportunity to vote, but I took the stance of “Well I don’t really like either of them, and I haven’t done my research, so I won’t vote”.  And then I had four years of not being able to bitch.  Hindsight is 20/20…and that situation helped me to firm up my belief, that if you don’t take an active role in your government – you have no reason to bitch!.  So in 2004 I voted, knowing that since I lived in a primarily red state, my vote might not count, and it didn’t.   But I felt that if I feel that way, other people may feel that way, and if you don’t try, you can’t change a DAMN thing.  So here we are in 2008, dealing with a highly emotional and historic election.  Had to come along sometime.  And I voted.  I was there in line at 7:05 this morning.  I waited patiently, and was very nice to the precint staff.  I extremely large ballet, and walked to my little box.  Now did I have all the information on every election. No.  But I don’t have to vote for everyone.  I voted for the ones that were important to me, I voted for the person I want to see as my next president, and I voted for the propositions for my area.  I turend my ballot in, and walked back to my car – with a smile.  No matter the outcome, I will never repeate the year 2000 and not vote.  I took an active  role in my government today – I hope it goes the way I want it too…but if not, I have the right to bitch for the next 4 years!!!

GO VOTE People!  Get out there, and VOTE!

Tomorrow we get to pick the next leader of our country.  Get out there – stand in line, take your lunch early!  VOTE People VOTE!!!!  If you don’t vote, you don’t have the option to have a say in your govenernment – and that mean you can’t BITCH! LOL.

I’ll be standing in line at 7:00 am to cast my vote – and I’m voting for Obama!!!!  VOTE!