How Far Have We Come?

Whew ….

In the days leading up to Election Day, I thought for sure something would go awry. I read too much to suggest that voting disenfranchisement would occur, just as it had occurred in districts in elections past that predominantly vote democratic.

I had little faith that those in power would let go of power without any means necessary.

But then incredible things happened. People voted orderly and when possible early. Lines may have been long, but there were few instances to suggest that the process was rigged. Locally, the longest wait I heard of was my own and Jennifer’s wait — two hours and 45 minutes — in a district in Northwest Oklahoma City.

In addition to that, based upon earlier poll after poll after poll, as the returns came in, there were little to no surprises. Barack Obama won the electoral vote and popular vote in line according to predicted expectations.

The system worked. The people spoke. We have our first black presidential elect.

And then, my personal poetic moment came that I will never forget. Ethan and Gabriella had been asleep for more than two hours. But just as Obama took the stage for his acceptace speech, Ethan staggered out of bed, nearly sleep walking. I was sitting on my recliner in my bedroom, itching to watch history, and I motioned him towards me.

“Sit in my lap.”

“OK, daddy.”

Pause

“Look at all those people,” he said

“You said it,” I replied.

“Who’s that man?”

“Ethan, that is our first black president.”

“What’s his name?”

“Barack Obama.”

“What is he doing?”

“Making history.”

Snuggling my son on my lap, we witnessed history.

Enough said.