And Austin Celebrated...

Ele was first with the news at 10:06pm - she texted me "Obama won!!!"

That was on my way down 5th from Mopac. By the time I reached 6th and Brazos, you could hear cheering everywhere. People were celebrating. With their voices, their car horns, and many a 'happy dance'.

This was the scene outside the Driskill:

Shortly after, the APD barricaded 6th Street from Red River to Congress, as the celebration spread out of the bars and into the streets. More parties are planned this weekend to celebrate the long-awaited victory.

But, this being Texas, even the people who voted for Obama were cautiously cheerful when they got in the cab - until they were sure of who I voted for. Politics is a touchy subject down here - especially this election. After all, we not only got the first Democrat in the highest office in 8 years - but the first person of color - ever. And as I told the young black woman I drove home from Denny's after overhearing her mention to someone on the phone - very casually - "Did you hear Obama won?", Obama didn't just win - he kicked ass.

I think my favorite conversation was with the Indian Graduate Student. He had caught the bus downtown from the airport, and I was driving him the rest of the way home. He was hopefully optimistic that this was a true sign of change. I suspect a lot of people feel that way. But what really hit me, was as I left his complex, after a very pleasant conversation on hope - I noticed the stop sign as I pulled back up to Lake Austin Boulevard. Someone had spray painted the word "WAR" under the "STOP" part. This is one of the things I love about Austin :)

But, I think my Wal-Mart clerk was in shock. This is a nice, young, white, Christian kid. And he's horribly disappointed, and afraid. Actually, I think he's in shock. So much so that he began discussing his views on abortion and gay marriage as he checked my groceries. I tried to explain to him, that despite his insistence that granting people like me a 'civil union' may be the same as marriage (he supports the former), that treating us as second-class citizens because we ARE gay, is not cool. And I pointed out to him, that while we may disagree on abortion - there is a lot about it we do agree on. I feel kind of sorry for the right-wing Christians. Their world has been rocked.

Hopefully, they'll adapt. Because I believe we will see change from this event. Not instantaneous change, of course. But the very fact that America looked past it's prejudices (and trust me, even the most open-minded of us - especially down south - have them) and elected Barack Obama to the highest office in our country, speaks volumes. I never believed I would see it happen in my lifetime. But I get goosebumps just thinking about it. Because it's pretty damn awesome.

I think it may mean America is finally ready to grow up. And it's about damn time. I also think this will be enormously helpful to the african-american community. It has the potential to give them a sense of ownership in this country that they have lacked. They have been a disenfranchised people for too long, in a psychological sense. Hell, it gives me a sense of pride. Maybe it was my Aunt telling my mom I looked like a little Mexican as an infant - but frankly, I've always felt like an outsider in white-bread society. I can't imagine how intimidating mainstream white society is for folks of completely different ethnic backgrounds. But I'm willing to bet this gives some people a sense of ownership - and belonging.

And while I still feel the President is not the end-all and be-all of politics - since a lot of other factors come into play that make the Presidency more of a figurehead role - I do think Obama will be good for this country psychologically, as long as he doesn't fuck-up too much. He has the charisma of JFK, and the manner of an educated gentleman. And he's fought some really impossible odds to get where he is this moment. I'm betting his grandma is damn proud of him.

And a lot of people here were, too. Happy, proud, relieved. Except for the occasional Republican, who was generally just quiet, or trying to pretend it didn't matter - except for my friend at Wal-Mart, of course. I think he was just shocked and dismayed. But hopefully he, and the rest of that segment of the population, will get over it enough to attempt to work together on making this world a better place. At least they've taken the McCain signs down in my neighborhood, which is quite an improvement to me :)

But the most bizarre thing tonight was the $10 dollar tip from the guy who works at HEB - because he considered me a Good Samaritan for calling in a drunk driver to APD. Why wouldn't you call in somebody who could kill somebody else? Oh, and I finally reported a runner - two kids I picked up on 6th street. They were young teens - and it occurred to me to ask for cash - but I figured I was going to take them to the N. Lamar bus station anyway, since I couldn't in good conscience leave them alone on West 6th. But I did call the cops when they bolted. I didn't stay for the police report - what's the point? But I reported them and told the cop who called back I'd be happy to meet up with them if they spotted them. You have to teach people what consequences are for behaviors. I only learned this recently, after two years of getting ripped off every two or three months. But I figure it's time I make an effort to hold people accountable.

But even that incident couldn't spoil tonight. It was just too sweet a victory.
Besides, Karma's a bitch...they'll figure that out sooner or later.

But tonight, tonight was joyous: