A new day, a new President-elect

Well, the seemingly never ending election FINALLY came to an end. While I do not agree with all of his policies, I have to say I feel better about the Obama/Biden team as a whole than I did with the McCain/Palin team. Sarah Palin one health incident or accident away from being president? No thanks.

I thought McCain showed his true class in his concession speech, as did Obama in congratulating McCain for his campaigning efforts. A few random thoughts:

1. The race factor: I know that as a white female I lose some credibility in discussing this issue, but it makes me simultaneously happy and sad that a lot of the celebration over Obama's victory focused on his skin color. This is a man that won the popular vote of the entire country in a way that many voters have never seen. He contributed to 50% percent of registered voters age 18-25 actually voting! While it is sad that half of the registered voters in this demographic gave up their voice, 50% is a huge number. Regardless, instead of promoting general statistics such as these, the camera panned to crowds of black American's celebrating. And interviews focused on the fact that he will be the first black President. I wish the focus could have been more about unity as a nation instead of focusing on race which can still be divisive. (I primarily watched MSNBC for election coverage - maybe this was different on other networks.)

On the other hand, it breaks my heart that over a century since slavery ended in this nation and fifty years since the civil rights movement achieved some of their most ground breaking victories there are black, Asian, Hispanic, etc. individuals that genuinely believed that they would never see a non-white individual move into the White House in their lifetime. I am glad for the hope Obama's victory has given them but appalled that this lesson is still being learned.

2. I am beyond sick of uninformed people. This morning, over twenty four hours after the election was over I am still getting ridiculous email forwards, phone calls, and hearing conversations that disgust me. I do not understand how people can blindly accept information that seems so ridiculous.

There are reports that gun shops in Texas are literally running out of weapons to sell because of people wrongly believing that Obama does not support the 2nd amendment. Running out and buying a hand gun because you fear that Obama's policies might make it more difficult for you to have one in the future is idiotic. If you truly needed/wanted one you probably would have already had one. Buying a weapon that you cannot use does not protect you. In fact you are putting yourself at greater risk because the person that breaks into your house that you are fearful of might know how to use it and turn it back on you.

If these people making a rush to the gun shop to buy weapons, my own parents included, had any sense they would pop onto Obama's website or just do a google search to see what he thinks about gun control. I bet they would find themselves in agreement with a lot of what he has to say. Get rid of assault weapons. Keep excess weapons out of inner cites. Protect the federal right to bear arms, but leave the option open for states and cities to come up with their own policies.


3. And along the same lines, I am so tired of propaganda. For people that pass along email forwards you have not researched or spread rumors during the campaign about Obama you should be ashamed of yourselves. Because American's are apparently so gullible that we will believe anything that lands in our inbox, we have American's truly fearful of our soon-to-be president.

4. For Christians who believe that Obama's the Antichrist, who cares. If he is, you get to go to heaven sooner! As a Christian you should be taken in the rapture and you won't even be on earth to experience the plagues. Hallelujah!

I meant to write this post yesterday when I was truly excited about the election being over and more optimistic in the results, but I ran out of time. A phone call this morning just really frustrated and has really been on my mind all day. I'd love to hear anyone's thoughts on what I wrote or what they thought about the election results.