a new president

I find it hard to blog about huge events: Easter, my wedding, and presidential elections, among other things. It's easier for me to post photos than to try and reflect on meaning or "what happened."

But I have no photos to post about election night, which blew me away. Nothing seemed cliche -- red states going blue, McCain's concession speech, Grant Park bursting at the seams, Obama's acceptance speech. I admired McCain's choice to talk about race and American history, and his evident deep emotion and personal responsibility for his campaign. He was solid and collected, and perhaps too hard on himself.

I cried, because I can't believe after centuries of American racism -- the conscious or subconscious belief that black people belong at the financial or emotional bottom of our society -- a black person is our president.

I will be frank and say that I voted for Barack Obama. I think he is a truly gifted leader, a phenomenal orator, and a visionary realist. But I am somewhat apprehensive for his presidency. I'm afraid so much hope could easily be disappointed. I'm afraid for his personal safety, as a black man in the most powerful position in the world. I'm afraid that a Democratic presidency and Congress could make a lot of rash and bully-pulpit decisions.

But I hope that Obama's history of calm and grounded responses in the midst of crisis, his amazing skill for oratory and communication, and his choice to jump right into to choosing his presidential advisors and staff show his commitment... and somehow, a lack of self-centeredness, in my eyes. I haven't seen much back-slapping or triumphalism this week.

It's also sort of amazing to have a president who is from my neighborhood of Hyde Park and the South Side of Chicago, who is part of my generation, and who spent so much time at the university that shaped a big chunk of my life -- the University of Chicago. He's an intellectual! We haven't had an intellectual president since... the early 19th century???

I hope we have just elected a president who cares more about this country than he cares about his own fame or power. That may be naive idealism, but I feel like we have someone who does his homework, who cares about history and the constitution (his specialty at U of C law school), and who doesn't bask in the light of his own power. He and our government will remain in my prayers.