Over...?

[lithera]

I see a lot of people on my friend's list talking about how it is over and how we won and how the world is a better place this morning. I think this is partially true. I see a lot of people griping bitterly about how everything will be just the same as soon as Obama becomes President and he'll disappoint and all of that.

Well.

I have a little bit to say about that.

Of course he'll disappoint some times. He's human and a politician - this means that he'll be angering or disappointing someone with pretty much ever decision he makes. He can (and has already started to, I might add) change the way this country is seen around the world. That's a big deal. I have hope for the way things are going to go in the White House.

Here's my big point, though. This is not over. It is not simply time to say, "Okay, we elected this great guy, he's going to fix all of our problems." No. This is when we roll up our sleeves and say, "What next?" This is the antithesis of the moment, when after 9/11 we asked "What can we do?" and we were told we could go out and shop. If you want change, you have to MAKE IT. It takes work and dedication to change the world. It takes fighting the good fight, the hard fight, for years.

Last night we elected a black man as President. We also banned gay marriage and/or adoption in three and Prop 8 is looking bad in California. While we're patting ourselves on the back for starting to step away from racism, we're just transfering the intollerance and hatred to a new group of people and in no way is that acceptable. The economy looks to be slowly stablizing but it still needs a lot help. We still have tons of work to do on alternative energy, saving the environment, and, you know, those two wars we have going on.

So, no. It isn't over.

This is just begining.

Get out there and volunteer. Donate your time or money to a cause that needs it.

Comments

[kitty-das.livejournal.com]

Very well said. I'm also still in the afterglow period, but I'm ready for the hard work.

[lithera.livejournal.com]

Let me know if you have any ideas on the hard work. *grins*

[kitty-das.livejournal.com]

I'm going to paraphrase one of my friends who said this very eloquently

"I did my civic duty via the ballot box yesterday. That was important, for sure. But there's also all the other ways I vote all the time. What I buy, what I speak up for, what I do with my time, who I care about, and what organizing I do. I am voting for a better world all the time, and my civic duty doesn't start or end at the ballot box."

Personally, I need help myself in what I do with my time. I think the way I live my life as far as a consumer and the energy I put out in to the world as far as personal interactions is hopefully making for a better world but as far as real, tangible *work* I'm kind of at a loss myself. But I feel ready for it.

[lithera.livejournal.com]

*nods* I'm going to be looking into organizations for volunteering-ness.

[kitty-das.livejournal.com]

Same here, I'm just torn on where to go. I'd love to hear what you choose to do!

[lithera.livejournal.com]

I will let you know!