Proud to be American

I don't think I've ever uttered these words before.

This morning, when my alarm rang, I'll admit, it was a little tough to pull myself out of bed. But, when I finally did, I remembered there was a good reason for me to get out in the living room, and turn the tv on. I was very excited to check the election results. My heart started pounding as I reached for the remote, pressed the button, and started flipping from the sports channel the tv was left on last night by Joel, to a news station. Any station. I think I arrived at BBC News first- who were running banners and announcing, "Obama has done it!"

I had taped all the election coverage on CNN, and before I went to work, I watched Obama's acceptance speech. I got chills, I was moved near to tears, I couldn't stop smiling. What a victory for our nation.

Did you read what I just wrote? Gosh! When was the last time that you heard me refer to the US as "our nation?" Now, I know this might make me a fair-weather American. But here's the thing...

Growing up in rather international circles- what with having lots of friends in Canada, studying abroad in France, and then, needless to say, working abroad for the last 5+ years (this is my sixth!)...I have as an American passport holder gotten endless flack for being American. And this is long before I got intimate with all the Australians, who make fun (of anything and anyone) for fun. And the thing is, when people laughed at Americans through me for over-reacting about Monica, or hated on Americans through me for re-electing Bush, I couldn't fight back. All I could say was, "I'm not one of THOSE Americans."

For a long, long time, I associated more with being Latvian than American. Then I moved to Latvia, and realized, "Hey, I'm not *REALLY* one of these people either." Yeah, it was around then that I started to have major, "Who am I?" issues. It coincided perfectly with my mid-twenties.

But today, this morning, I said to Joel, "I have the weirdest feeling Joel! Today, for the first time in my life, I'm proud to be an American!" I desperately wished that I had a patriotic shirt or pin to wear- alas, I've never once bought a piece of clothing that has an American flag on it, or "USA". Ah well. My extra bright smile today might be enough to show how I feel- but it is amazing- really, and truly, proud to be American.

And for the record- it's not just because Obama won- it's because I have never, never seen so many people out there, fighting for what they believe in. Never has our country seen such high voter registration and turn out. It's inspiring. It's wonderful that apparently all those people that thought to themselves, "My vote won't make a difference" in the last election, finally got it, and finally decided to make a difference.

I am truly, truly inspired. And on this day, I have to say, I am going to share my joy with anyone who asks- and I'll do it in front of anyone. I don't care. Today, I won't be silenced.


Now- we have to keep supporting Obama. He is going to need all the good energy and support he can get to tackle some of the issues he's going to be faced with. He can count on me. Even if I'm not there, on US soil, I'll be supporting him from wherever I am! :)

***Later that day....

It's always something though isn't it? I'm so excited about Obama's win. But then, I have to hear the news about proposition 8. The proposition set forth by people so afraid, that they think that letting other people be happy will take away from their own (probably meager) happiness. Prop 8 was about adding an amendment to the State constitution making same-sex marriages illegal, and specifically putting in the words along the lines of, "only a marriage between a man and a woman will be legal and recognized in (insert state name)." So sad. Alas, we have had a shining moment, but America still has so far to go, so, so far.