Last night began like any other mid-week fall evening. I opened the fridge, heated up some leftover rice and marched downstairs to watch the news. As the polls started to come in, a wave of energy lit from within. A sudden realisation emerged, ‘Oh no, we shouldn’t be inside – this is pivotal, this is history, this is one of those moments in our life that we will recall with accuracy in twenty years.’
There’s been a few of these: watching the Berlin wall go down, tearing down Yonge street honking like mad when the Jays won the World Series, taking a last minute flight to Montreal for the 1995 Quebec referendum, being drunk at a house party and hearing about Princess Diana’s sudden death, of course 9/11 – and now this.
Needless to say, half way through my bowl of rice it became clear that despite battling a relentless cold, I needed to run out and find the spot in Toronto that would soak up this moment with the most energy – or at least somewhere to share the excitement instead of simply tossing myself into a pile of laundry and screaming in glee. Weeeeeeee!
First stop – Plaza Flamingo on College. Never having been in this joint before, I had no idea it could accommodate – what felt like 2,000 people. Americans living in Canada lined long tables – eating chicken and eyeing the results. When Ohio came through as a Democrat win, cheers abounded with smiles and bright eyes.
I spoke with a thirty something guy from LA who moved to Toronto three months ago:
"How are you feeling right now?"
"I cried eight years ago when Bush got in, I cried again four years ago. Tonight I’m looking forward to celebrating."
Suddenly my enthusiasm felt fake and insignificant compared to ‘real’ Americans. Was I an Obama poser? Hmmm.
What was exceptionally beautiful about this scene was that there was no way of categorizing the crowd – it was simply a cross-section of society looking for change and feeling passionate about politics with one another.
Okay – so where else can we hit before the 270 votes come in?
A quick cab south to the Gladstone and we were in the middle of a Canadian rally for Obama. Remarks overheard included.
"This is our JFK."
"It’s so cool that we are a part of history right now."
"Why can’t Canadian politics be this sexy?"
"Obama is hot, isn’t he?"
"I know, we just had to get out of the house!"
"Can you get me another ’50??"
We stood, we sat, we sat on each other or lay on the floor – drinking beer, whispering – perplexed over the hologram of Black Eyed Peas singer Will.i.am. The CNN reporter even remarked how very Star Trek the whole thing was. We still aren’t sure what happened but really wanted to run through the translucent Will.i.am yelling "YES WE CAN!"
Reports later came in that those who missed the hologram scurried to You Tube to catch and were beyond thrilled to be the fifth person to watch.
Mysterious sci-fi news aside, for the past ten years, I’ve regarded our neighbours to the South – as embarrassing, insular, junk food addicted, easily manipulated, God lovin’ greedy pigs. (this statement is mostly directed at bible thumping, fear driven middle America) A severe, unfair and highly judgmental point of view? Absolutely, but that’s how I felt.
Call me fickle, but in less than 24 hours, even I was proud to be American… and I’m not even a citizen. Like those gathered at Grant Park in Chicago last night, I too am excited for change and ecstatic to see what will happen to this country. Are you?
The moment he was declared President Elect, it felt like everyone just stopped thinking about their dire financial circumstances, failing relationship or unstable employment and just celebrated. The lesbians and gays in the room celebrated the most. It was very noticeable when Obama said the word "gay" that this struck a chord in the Melody Bar. A high note of the night – a ha aha ha ha ha.
Listening to CBC radio right now, there are people who are vocalizing their frustrations in terms of why – as Canadians, do we care so much? It’s not our country after all. Essentially, they think the hype and excitement is silly.
Aside from the fact that our troops are at war due to the US, and that our economy (along with the rest of the world’s) is in chaos – due to the US – these minor details aside, Barack Obama stands for something far more than an intelligent man who will be the 44th President. He stands for a change of force. What seemed like an impenetrable, age-old white man’s world of power has finally been shaken up. This is not just a proud day for African Americans but women, Hispanics living in the US, Native Americans, Gays and Lesbians – it is pivotal for all of us. What seemed impossible a year ago has now been realized and it gives all of us hope – whether we are a black teenager in Baltimore, a grown man in Kenya, a Moroccan immigrant in France, a Muslim in NYC or a white woman in Toronto.
Obama knows that the power in leadership does not come from raising one’s own profile but by empowering each and every citizen. It is not just the decisions made in the oval office that will bring about change, but the actions of every day Americans that will steer a new direction. It is exciting to envision a new President in the white house, but even more exciting to know that this is a President who will motivate his people to change. That’s power.
Wise, charismatic, brilliant and handsome – here’s to you, Barack!
How the f*ck is SNL going to knock this guy?
*sigh* – now when will we get to toss out Harper for someone as inspiring? Being Canadian has never felt so boring.
E-mail us your thoughts: haley@shedoesthecity.com
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