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Wednesday, November 5, 2008

We Were in Bellevue

posted by on November 5 at 3:21 AM

The SECB was at Darcy Burner’s election-night celebration when all hell broke loose. We wept when Obama gave his speech, and an Obama-happy Iranian lady clutched at us when the vote was announced. She was quickly followed by an old woman—a longtime Kennedy fan—who grabbed at us as though we were on fire. Nobody could really uderstand that this was the current situation, that the election was decided. Everybody grabbed at strangers as though the moment was real.

Bellevue was not as crazy as Seattle reportedly is at the moment, but it was sincere. To hug complete strangers at the ascendancy of a Democratic presidency, at the first moment on the planet earth that a western industrialized nation has accepted a minority as its leader, is beyond believable at this point. No Democratic president has assumed this level of acceptance from his electorate since FDR. This is completely stunning. Bellevue is in awe, as are we all.

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1

the first moment on the planet earth that a western industrialized nation has accepted a minority as its leader

Not to nitpick, but Jean Chrétien was a member of the Quebecois minority, and he wasn't the first (that would be Wilfrid Laurier).

Also, Benjamin Disraeli was ethnically though not observantly Jewish, and French Prime Minister Léon Gambetta was the son of an Italian immigrant.

Posted by Jason Kuznicki | November 5, 2008 4:15 AM
2

@1

The Canadians and the French? You know you're talking to Americans, right? Who the fuck cares about Canada or France? NOT ME!

Posted by Eric | November 5, 2008 4:25 AM
3

Are we considering women as 'minorities'?

'Cause if we are, Canada's had one of those (briefly), too; Kim Campbell.

Jesus, even *France* has had one of those (briefly)... .

If you extend the definition of 'Western industrialized countries', then toss in Alberto Fujimori in Peru.

Guess it depends on how you define 'minority'.

Posted by and another thing... | November 5, 2008 8:17 AM
4

So I'm not quite sure its true that "No Democratic president has assumed this level of acceptance from his electorate since FDR." Lyndon B. Johnson won by a landslide in 1964.
See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election#Results

Posted by Susan | November 5, 2008 12:24 PM
5

My humble musical letter to president Obama:
www.writinghannah.blogspot.com

Best,
Hannah

Posted by hannah friedman | November 5, 2008 12:27 PM

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