Crushing Krisis

Comic Books, Drag Race, & Life in New Zealand

current events

Nous Arrivons

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At the end of explaining the flat, Céline turned on our petite television set.

“CNN,” she said, “for you.”

Her English is flawless; we had to tell her how to say “circuit breaker.” Meanwhile, outside in the cab I barely cobbled together a sentence while Elise rang to have us let into the flat. “Is it okay that you wait for a minute? She finds the number now.”

Elise jumped in with her actual accent to save me, and I went poking about at the door to see about getting us let in. Here I was thwarted by laziness in packing – my bag was supposed to have my tiny maglite in it, but I decided at the last minute it wasn’t worth the bother. Well, standing in the pitch black lobby trying to dial up Céline on the intercom by the backlight of my iPod I decided that, clearly, it would have been worth it.

As Céline prepared to step out CNN broke from commercial back to their Obama coverage. She fixed us with a bemused look and indicated the television.

“So funny, that you have come all this way at this time.”

“But, I want to see it from here! I want to hear what you think.”

“Well,” she said with a grin, “it is great for us as well.”

She promised me an interview tomorrow if I did my French homework tonight.

First, dinner.

President Obama

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When I was small I used to watch the news every night. At seven I was probably more educated about congress and presidential politics than I am now.

In the first election I was old enough to chat about – likely Bush Sr. in ’88 – I remember my mother telling me about Ferraro. “In 1984,” she said, “there was a woman on the ticket for the first time ever – Ferraro.” (My mother never uttered her first name that I can recall.) “She would have been Vice President for the Democrats, but they lost to Regan.”

I don’t remember her sounding too upset; I guess everyone liked Regan at least a little bit. But, I do remember the message that followed, whether it was said out loud, maybe in a voting booth, or just implied during our next re-watch of Free To Be You and Me.

It’s important that a woman can be considered for our second highest office. You’re going to grow up to be a white man, and in a way you’re lucky because you can aspire to do anything – even be president. At some point in your life you’re going to have the chance to vote for a woman, or for someone who is black or Asian, or for some other kind of person who usually isn’t given the same opportunities you might have. And, if you vote for them you might have to vote against someone who is more like you, but it’s important for you to support them. Not only because you agree with them, but because of what their election could mean for America.

In a way her message, however she actually conveyed it, changed my whole life. It was the birth of my feminism and the kernel that would become my fierce dedication to civil rights for everyone, no matter how different from me they are. And, it made me become aware that America means something very special and very specific – it means freedom to be and freedom to choose.

For that reason, even in the moments I have been the most critical of America, her message has always inspired me to fight for my country instead of against my country. That distinction has nothing to do with party lines and colored states on a map – it’s about freedom and choice. It’s about the quality of compassion.

Yesterday we elected the first black president of the United States of America. Not just black, but multi-racial. Just like America. Just like the family I have created for myself with Elise.

Tonight I’m already looking forward to America’s future elections. I’m looking forward to presidents who are female, Muslim, gay, Asian, or atheist.

Yesterday we could have elected the first woman vice president. And, though she lost, she may inspire stories told to another generation of little girls and boys who will grow up to love their country not for what it is, but for what it can be.

Tonight I spent some time with my two best friends – a woman who has made her way in a white man’s industry despite discrimination against her and everyone else, and another woman who saw four states tell her she doesn’t share the same rights as her peers because of who she is and who she has chosen to spend the rest of her life with.

Yesterday I cried from when I made that last post until about thirty minutes after the acceptance speech ended. I cried, and it felt good, because I was witnessing the birth of the America my mother promised me I would have a chance to live in. It has arrived blessedly early in my charmed existence.

Tonight I am weary and drained, but still ready to fight for my country, in my way. To fight to make people understand the rights we have and the process we are due. To fight for our freedom to be and to choose.

Today my mother sent me an email that shared its subject with this post’s title. It read:

Peter,

We just made history!!!!!!!

xo
mom

!

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I think it’s officially projectable: we’re at a tie on my projection, and even if Obama drops all of the rest of the states (unlikely) he’d win a tie-break Obama has crossed the 270 threshold.

Currently Projected: DE, VT, DC, ME, NH, RI, CT, MD, MN, WI, MA, NJ, MI, IL, NY, PA

Safely Assumed: HI, NM, IA, OR, WA, CA, NC

(9:23 – MSNBC just called OH, which wasn’t on either of my lists, so now it’s really over.)

(9:25 – Every time I start talking I start crying.)

VOTE!

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I’ve shared many opinions this election season, but I’m not going to link any of them from this post because the only opinion that matters today is your own.

If you are registered to vote, please visit your local polls! Even if you don’t support a major-party candidate, a third-party vote has positive implications for broader choices in future elections.

If you are not registered to vote, please take this opportunity to investigate how to register in your area.

And, if – like me – you rolled out of bed at an ungodly hour to try to be the first at your poll only to find that dozens of people had the same idea as you, then please proceed to my Electoral Vote prediction.

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