I worked a poll in Roxbury for the state senate race in my district from 2-8 last night. One of my favorite parts of yesterday:
I said my usual refrain ("thank you. have a nice day!") to one woman as she was leaving. She was a youngish woman wearing full burka (there's a big Muslim, mostly East African community in this area), and she turned around and said, in a pretty thick accent, "I hope we make history today!" I smiled and said, "Me too."
It was such a small moment and gesture, but it symbolizes the success of Obama's campaign to me: while success was measured by the win, the process of the campaign showed Americans that despite our significant differences to the eye we, as a people, may actually have more in common than we think we do. For me and that woman yesterday, I think it was hope for something better.
I said my usual refrain ("thank you. have a nice day!") to one woman as she was leaving. She was a youngish woman wearing full burka (there's a big Muslim, mostly East African community in this area), and she turned around and said, in a pretty thick accent, "I hope we make history today!" I smiled and said, "Me too."
It was such a small moment and gesture, but it symbolizes the success of Obama's campaign to me: while success was measured by the win, the process of the campaign showed Americans that despite our significant differences to the eye we, as a people, may actually have more in common than we think we do. For me and that woman yesterday, I think it was hope for something better.
