I wanted to write a brief post about the election tonight, because it is such an historic moment. Finding the words to describe how I feel, however, is a difficult task. I’m not ashamed to admit that I shed tears (of joy) when they finally called the election for Barack Obama, and am still a bit emotional as I watch the news.

There are so many things running through my mind, but I am primarily feeling a deep pride in my country. When you consider the fact that our constitution originally included a provision for the return of fugitive slaves, it is amazing to see just how far we’ve come. I am so grateful that my daughters will grow up in an America where a black man can be elected to the highest political office, and where women can be seen as viable candidates as well. And as cheesy as it may sound, tonight I am proud to be an American. Not for the first time, but certainly to a new degree.

I think John McCain gave an excellent concession speech, and want to congratulate him on his efforts in this historic race. While I certainly disagreed with him on policies and campaign practices, his speech tonight reminded us all of why he is considered such an exemplary American figure and a true patriot.

I am looking forward to Obama’s speech tonight, and look forward to the next four years as “President Obama” takes office. This was the first time in my life that I have been actively engaged in the political process, at least to this extent. I donated money to the campaign in the primaries and in the general election. My support for Obama was incredibly public, I made phone calls for his campaign, and I endured a number of personal attacks for my political preferences. I even got up at 5:00 a.m. this morning to make sure I had adequate time to vote.

And the victory tonight made every moment worth it!

With the announcement that Barack Obama’s grandmother died today, we are sadly reminded of the value of writing blog posts with closed comments when dealing with sensitive news. Here is a collection of some of the comments I collected from the various posts about Obama’s grandmother, which only demonstrate how truly inhuman we can be at the most inappropriate times:

We display our racism:

The statement comes from Obama’s “half” sister. His one-of-a-kind gene pool results from the 60s copulation of a white flower child and a black African. Let’s get it right, Politico, or are you spinning the race even in death, both literally and figuratively?

We recognize the worst in our society:

Comment threads at times like these are where we separate the realm human beings from the pigs.

We respond to negativity with more negativity:

No occasion is so solemn and sad that some turd won’t stand up and speak: “Her silence is assured forever, and with it, the chance of discovering that her grandson has perpetuated the greatest fraud in the history of this Republic.” May you get explosive diarrhea on a long car trip with no exits for 40 miles.

We make everything into a media issue:

RIP, but i am surprised Obama’s campaign isn’t eating this up.

We politicize death:

Obama’s going for the sympathy vote! When did she really die?

We point out the ironies inherent in negative politics:

GOP announces lawsuit today against Obama alleging improper use of campaign funds for trip to Hawaii. Worst. Timing. Ever.

We create conspiracies:

Obama stated previously that she had a broken hip. Now he’s saying she died of cancer. Which one is it??? This is all very strange. He can’t even tell the truth about his grandmother’s illness. Why didn’t he take his children there to visit her???

We display more insensitivity and racism:

What a bunch of electric Kool-Aid saturated pablum! If Obama really loved this woman as much as you believe, he’d have spent more than an hour with her in the last three months. Heck, he spent more time trying to supress his Kenyan birth!

And continue to mock and politicize death:

So much for the audacity of hope! Is she really dead, or is this a sympathy ploy? Will we read on Wednesday that he raised her from the dead and that the MSM believes it?

We make ridiculous accusations:

So Obama, the new type of politician, is out campaigning on the same day the woman who raised him dies? That’s not change, that’s same old win-at-all-costs politicking.

We display a complete lack of sensitivity:

It’s too bad that she died, but that is a fact of life.

We let people upset us with ridiculous comments:

Kim: I don’t think she died today so that you would vote for her grandson. Grow up! Didn’t anyone ever tell you to shut up if you don’t have anything to say?

We find fault in the strangest places:

It is Obama’s fault for fueling speculation by not being open and forthright. We mourn his loss, but with cancer it is a long battle. Many people have or have had cancer and I wish he had shared that information about his grandmother with us. To have this become a political wedge is just another reason to know that Obama is NOT ready to be president.

We continue to engage in conspiracies:

Has her death been verified or is it another lie? He ought to gain a couple sympathy votes out of this.

We attack back with equally asinine comments:

McCain’s grandmother died during the Jackson administration.

We recognize our own inhumanity:

When I read that, my first thought was ‘Will this hurt or help him in the polls?’ This election needs to end. Now. I cannot be this person any longer.

We say really stupid things:

Wonder if she’s still going to vote tomorrow.

We ignore the death itself and continue to display our racism:

I know you may not want to believe this, but some of us are voting for McCain and it isn’t because Barack is black, or whatever race he claims to be this week.

We engage in even more conspiracies and racism:

I said she would die before the election; she knew too much. He only spent an hour with her when he went over, and he really went to try and stop a lawsuit against him. Another has been filed in regards to his campaigning for his cousin Odinga the terrorist on the taxpayers dime. Being black won’t help him forever.

We attack families:

Maybe she was ashamed at the church he attended. Maybe she was ashamed that he associated with Ayers and Rezko. Maybe she was ashamed that he let his aunt live in a slum in Boston and let his brother live on $12/year. Maybe she was ashamed he voted against partial-birth abortion bans. In short, how the hell do you know what made here proud? Did she tell you or the press?

We make jokes that aren’t funny:

I read that she died from cancer, and not the injuries from being thrown under the bus by her grandson.

I have been disgusted throughout the last days of this election cycle by the hate, fear-mongering, and general negativity displayed by fellow citizens — but this is really too much. These hate-filled remarks only fill me with anger as well, and bring our entire society down. I’m deeply disturbed, but comfort myself with the hope that this represents a very small minority in our population.

Again, these comments have been edited at times for spelling.

In addition, any comments like the ones above will not be permitted for this post. I will either moderate those comments or close all commenting should that occur.

Although not a supporter, I have to give John McCain credit for an excellent performance on Saturday Night Live this past weekend. He pulled off both of his acts quite well, and I think he was much funnier than past candidates have been. Here is the excellent QVC sketch, also starring the brilliant Tina Fey:

And here is his appearance on Weekend Update. My personal favorite is the “Sad Grandpa,” although I know many people are rooting for the “Double Maverick!”

To be honest, this episode was one of the best that Saturday Night Live has put together in a long time. Ben Affleck was amazing in all of his skits, and especially AWESOME in this sketch where he plays Keith Olbermann. He absolutely nails it with his indignation over the treatment of his cat, “Miss Precious Perfect!”

I’m hoping that tonight’s election special will be equally entertaining!

So I kicked off my morning by reading what I considered a nice opinion article that was posted on The Nation website. It was an article praising Obama, to be sure, although it was primarily interested in understanding questions of unity, hope, and fear during this election season. This was written in the comments section:

The only way that America can be saved from this skinny Hitler is to remain very divided. I will have no dealings whatsoever with anyone I know of that voted for this Marxist baby-butcher. I will boycott any company that supports him or his slave-followers. Every real American must do whatever the can to bring him and his evil regime to justice. The first thing I am going to do is buy several guns and lots of ammunition. Then I am going to go underground, because this Hitler is going to have spies and backstabbers everywhere with his “Civilian National Defense” Gestapo KGB operation. Obama is the biggest threat to American freedom that exists today, and he must and will be stopped.

While I hope this is just some antisocial teenage boy who mistakenly thinks he is funny, I really don’t know how much that demographic reads The Nation. It scares me to know that there are people out there that think this type of commentary is appropriate, or that they somehow have access to a “real” America to which I don’t belong. My emotions are mixed, of course, because while I am appalled at the audacity of this post, I also find myself laughing at the ignorance and absurdity of it all. What truly frightens me is that I personally know a few people who would likely tell me that such comment isn’t all that absurd. And I only say that because these people have actually referred to me as a fascist, socialist, communist, godless, elitist, baby-killer. Let’s just say it will be nice to have the election over in a few days.

In the interest of full disclosure, I did correct some spelling in the above quote.

Although I know many people who visit my blog are supporters of Sarah Palin, I can’t help posting a link to “The American Center For Sarah Palin Inspirational Limericks: Maverick Versification For One Heckuva Nation” for your general enjoyment. This site was initiated and maintained by one of my colleagues in the English Department here at Washington University in St. Louis, and actually received a little bit of national media attention. I must admit, writing a limerick is harder than it looks!

Here is the link:

http://www.sarahpalinlimericks.blogspot.com/