Saw Barack Obama Clinch It, In Person!

First off, what a day/night Tuesday, June 3rd, 2008, was for me. It was a historic moment in the history of the United States and somehow, by the grace of God, I had the amazing honor of being one of 15,000 present in the XCel Energy Center, to witness Sen. Barack Obama announce he had essentially won the Democratic nomination. The first black man, in a country that was literally built by the blood and sweat of slaves over 200 years ago, to become a viable candidate for President of the United States. I'm sure if Martin Luther King Jr. were alive today he'd indeed say, "Hallejuliah!"

In many ways, I can't believe it happened. I always wanted it to, being disabled makes me a minority, so of course I'm happy to see any minority move to the next eschelon, to "Shatter the glass ceiling" if you will, but I had my doubts. There are still a lot of racist and ignorant people that live in this country. When I hear people accuse him of being Muslim because his middle name is "Hussein" (Btw, who cares if he was a Muslim! He's not, but if he was, I'd still vote for him), or even worse, that he's the Anti-Christ (Give me a break people. Please! I've suffered enough in this life...don't make me puke), I just become infuriated. Barack Obama WILL be the next President of the United States. I can feel it in my paralyzed gut. McCain is just too old, and too much of the same crap we've been fed the last 8 years.

That's the great thing about America and Americans. We thrive on change, we were BUILT on change. If it weren't for a change in leaders every 2, 4, or 8 years, what kind of country would we be today? Certainly not the country the constantly looks to the future, certainly not the country that invented electricity, the automobile, the country that founded the disabled rights movement. Barack in essence, is just a natural current in the river that is the USA. It was bound to happen eventually, and I'm just glad to have seen it in my lifetime.

Whether you like the man or not, know this: He is more than a 46 year old junior Senator from IL. He is more than a Harvard grad who still had school loan debt until his first book came out a few years ago. He is more than the presumptive Democratic nominee. He is a symbol, a beacon of change. He represents everything that is magical about our nation.

For pics from my experience at last night's speech, visit my flickr account here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/theophania79/sets/72157605436565163/