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Night of hope
05-Nov-2008
Not much has happened to me as an Iranian, a foreigner in this country for the past thirty years. A few fights and angry exchanges here and there, but I have been left alone for the most part. I came to a very “blond, blue-eyes” region in America with black hair and dark skin, but managed to make way more friends than enemies right off the bat and was treated well.
I kept thinking about that while I watched tears rolling down Jesse Jackson’s face tonight. He was born and raised here in this country. I kept thinking of what he may have gone through, what he heard, endured, how he managed to keep it together and how hopeful he was when JFK came onto the scene. I kept thinking how proud he must have been to walk with Martin Luther King and how he dedicated his life to equality.
He stood there crying after they announced Obama as the president elect. I could only guess what he was thinking and how he was feeling. All I knew was that his time has come. After decades of inequality, injustice, and inhumanity towards the color of his skin, he must feel a little relief.
This moment was and this movement is much bigger than Barak Obama and Jesse Jackson. It is a revolution in American thinking. From the gut wrenching moment of when a young Kansan kid showed me scars on a tree where he pointed out, “this is where we used to hang blacks from” to tonight, there have been many images and many moments that has left me in disbelief.
No, this is not going to make up for any or all of what has taken place in this country and how it behaved when it comes to blacks, but it is a huge step towards healing and finally lending a listening ear.
When Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama announced their candidacy for the office of the President of the United States, I said that this country is not ready for a black or a woman to become the president, not yet. Boy was I wrong!
After years of disappointment in American decisions and judgments, tonight has been a humbling moment for this naysayer, this pessimist of a person. And I confess, I have never been happier to be so wrong.
After seeing two elections being stolen and cheated away from righteousness, I had given up all hope. I am glad to be proven wrong, when I thought we would have another white, good old boy who hated the rest of the world.
This is a true night, a pure and just night, a night as real as Jesse Jackson’s tears. No one can steal it away from me, no one can cheat me, lie to me about it, or weasel it away.
Tomorrow morning, unlike the morning after in 2000 and 2004, I won’t wake up to what I think is a night mare in continuance.
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Obama
by Joelle Shefts (not verified) on Wed Nov 05, 2008 08:03 PM PSTThank you, Hamidbak, for your words about Barack Obama. I am a Jewish Ameican woman in her late fifties and this is one of the few times in my life that I am unflinchingly proud of my country. We have actually been able to do some growing, and that is a remarkable, almost miraculous thing. America is really becoming what it was meant to be all along; a country for all of us
.
Joelle Shefts
This is so cute...
by Reggaebama (not verified) on Wed Nov 05, 2008 04:37 PM PST//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zxn9jhypHfo&feature...
I posted this elsewhere, but I think it fits better here .
by Majid on Wed Nov 05, 2008 04:08 PM PSTHow can tell if this was a revolution?
I'm a "collector" type , matches, cigaretts from around the world, coins, odd documents and misprinted papers.
Nowadays less and less people buy news papers, most get their dose of news thru radio, TV, mobile phones and internet.
Today I went out to buy LA times and OC register, only for the purpose of "having them" !
In a very busy main street in OC. that stretches several miles thru many cities, every gas station, every 7-11 store and every coin news paper stand were out, One store owner told me with a smile that within 5 minutes after distribution of papers they were gone like hot cakes, he suggested that I might have a shot in Hispanic neighborhoods!! ZERO!
Even Sept. 12 and the days after was not like this!
When was the last time you saw something like this?
Yes, justice at last. If
by Anonymous 22 (not verified) on Wed Nov 05, 2008 02:53 PM PSTYes, justice at last. If only our khaak bar sar mardom could do the same in iran and elect a president who does not embrass us around the world. Will we get there? Not as long as we put each other down and talk about each others back. We deserve the mullahs.
Very beautifully said - my sentiments as well
by Ari (not verified) on Wed Nov 05, 2008 12:59 PM PSTDear Hamidbak:
You put it so well - Finally we were able to witness that the struggle of all the great men such as JFK, RFK, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Al Sharpton, John Lewis and so many others who fought hard during the civil rights movement and struggled for justice and equality for black Americans was evidenced by the election of Brack Obama as the next President of the United States of America. However, as Obama has stated over and over again, his vision for America, is not one of a red America, a blue America, a black America, white, Hispanic, Asian, gay or straight America but one of the United States of America with equality and justice for all.
May this be the beginning of a new chapter, new era for all Americans as well as a re-direction in US foreign policy to bring peace and justice and hold out a hand of reconciliation, compassion, understanding and hope for all of the people of the world.
Finally, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I have a dream" did come true. Though we still have a long way to go to eliminate bigotry, racisim, injustice but this is a new beginning and we should all work hand in hand together in making this a better America and a better world.
stolen???
by ali1348 (not verified) on Wed Nov 05, 2008 12:53 PM PSTnothing against obama, but there's going to be a crapstorm coming to this country very soon!
this reminds me of 1978, when khomeini mesmerised young "intelectuals" with his speeches- everyone thought he was an angel sent by god- and we all know how that turned out!
obama is surrounded the the same morons who "advised" carter- such as bresynksi who helped the mullahs kill thousands of innocent officers and helped usher in islamofascism.
before anyone calls me a bush-lover, let me say that bush is obviously no genius, but, at the same time, obama is an inexperienced rookie that is now in charge of the world's strongest nation.
let's pray he's not "tested" within the first few months!
how wonderfully you've put these emotions
by American Wife on Wed Nov 05, 2008 12:06 PM PSTthat we've all felt for so long. For the first time in a long time, I feel encouraged... maybe even empowered... by the feeling that America is coming together again after so many years of greed and dishonesty.
Not for a minute do I think we're perfect... but we're on our way now to being a true democracy! I hope not only the US benefits but that the world does as well.
Very nice!
by Anonymouszzzz (not verified) on Wed Nov 05, 2008 09:06 AM PSTHis win really brings back some hope and confidense in parts of America that's been down for a long time. Still the healthy sekptic in me can't help but wonder if he will have the cooperation and support he needs to restore America's moral backbone. Something the "old boy network" will resist.
His acceptance speech was one of the best I've heard, and I really hope he wrote it on his own.
I'm eager for a better America.
Dr. Phil moment for Iranian Islamists and Republicans
by :<D (not verified) on Wed Nov 05, 2008 08:18 AM PSTNow, it is time for Iranians especially youth in Iran to speak up.
Yes We Did
by varjavand on Wed Nov 05, 2008 06:41 AM PSTYes we did
I want to congratulate all the Obama supporters. This historical landslide victory was a clear mandate for a change, real change and an outrage against bigotry, preemptive strike ideology, and hegemony.
Last night the streets of Chicago was flooded with more than 150,000 people who showed up to celebrate this triumphant event. Even though, I am not that old, I perhaps was the oldest who had the opportunity to attend. The youth of America especially has spoken. We had a chance to show the world that America is still the land of democracy, equal opportunity, diplomacy and, the rule of reason and we did
Congratulation again
AMEN!
by Zan Amrikai on Wed Nov 05, 2008 06:18 AM PSTThank you for what you wrote; it was beautiful.
Thank you to all the Americans--whether native or naturalized--who voted in this election. A vote is a terrible thing to leave unused.
We have a new day, a new direction, a chance for something better. Tears trailed down my face as I listened to Obama last night, too. What a victory for us all!
ZA
For The Kid from Hawaii
by Darius Kadivar on Wed Nov 05, 2008 05:40 AM PSTFor The Kid from Hawaii
It's a proud moment for America
by Abarmard on Wed Nov 05, 2008 05:39 AM PSTThe nightmare is over. This is the way to set an example for the rest of the world.
Thanks Hamidbak!
by Maryam Hojjat on Wed Nov 05, 2008 05:35 AM PSTYour article touched my heart. Your true feeling was honestly expressed. I am proud of all Iranian-Americans who participated in this election to show the world their solidarity against injustice & bigotry. GOD Bless America & All Peace Loving People.
Hamidbak Jan,
by IranWrites on Wed Nov 05, 2008 05:00 AM PSTSorry for my error. I think it was just the effect of last night 's excitement. In the blurry light of my room, your name appeared as Irandokht, who also blogs in this site.
Irandokht Jan,
by IranWrites on Wed Nov 05, 2008 04:51 AM PSTSo glad to see so many Iranian involved in this election. I sure feel the way you do. Congratulation!
A new beginning
by Ali A Parsa on Wed Nov 05, 2008 04:32 AM PSTThanks for the kind worlds on this great occasion of what I call another new beginning that can positively affect every citizen of the world including me and you! It is not just a coincidence that your writing touched me so much. I am
sure that millions of like-minded people share your timely message.
Once again the people have spoken and proved that in
the long run and in the bigger scheme of things injustice and dishonesty are punished.
More than anything we are once again reminded that that there is a power beyond the control of
even the biggest materialistic powers that provides another chance for the oppressed to rise up
and speak against injustice.
In the long history of human beings such events take place as sure as sun shines every morning and gives us another chance, another hope and another new beginning to be all we can be and defend not only our rights, but the rights and well being of our fellow human beings. Best of luck to you for inspiring us more. Please see my website for more.