Last night as I watched the inauguration for President Obama, streaming live on the New York Times web site, I felt a surge of pride, excitement and awe. Obama's speech was even more poignant than I expected. Inspiring and hopeful, yet realistic. Genuine. The two million or so people huddling together in the cold January weather generated a blanket of warmth and positive energy that spread itself literally and virtually worldwide (even through the circuitry of my little laptop!)
As someone living abroad, I must say that I no longer feel embarrassed to say that I'm from the United States. Recently, one of my friends in Florida sent me a message via Facebook saying, "This is the end of our national nightmare. It's safe for you to come home now." I just might do that someday!
(Photo by Doug Mills from the New York Times)
2 comments:
holy crap.... i was googling images for 'obama finland' and came across your blog.
and it was like entering a bizarro world.
about 5 years ago, i sold my things and moved from florida to finland for studies and to make art. i lived in helsinki for 3 years. i met only one other american in all of that time.
then i sold my things again... and am now roaming eastern europe.
you are brave! a girl after my own heart.
congratulations on obama!
send me an email or stop by my blog if you want to talk anything finnish or whatever.
http://permtran.blogspot.com/
jon_tbbtts@yahoo.com
I, too, am SO proud to be an American - something I haven't felt in quite some time. I've mostly felt, in recent years, as if I wanted to crawl under a rock somewhere and hide my shameful American head.
It's wonderful how everyone I encounter seems so lifted by this. It's an amazing thing. We're lucky to be living right now. It feels like good things will happen.
xoxoxo
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