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Current mood:  optimistic Category: News and Politics
It has started to sink in a day after the historic election
in the U.S.
I just experienced one of the best weekends in my life in an unexpected place.
Locals call it the "Mistake by the Lake" otherwise known as Cleveland, Ohio.
What brought us to Cleveland
that fateful weekend was a career changing gig at the Rock & Roll Hall of
Fame. When Mike and I walked into the building we both were overcome by the
sense of greatness that filled the rooms, the halls and the air. They had a
wall titled “Here and Now” filled with contemporary artists and their
outfits, writings and guitars. It was such an amazing feeling to see Feist’s
blue sequined jumpsuit from 1,2,3,4 on the wall.
The show went off beyond our dreams. The energy on the stage
was flowing between Mike and myself and the crowd like wine. It was as if the
vibes from Jim Morrison's Christmas cards, Jimmy Hendrix battle scene drawings,
Mick’s red knee pads and Iggy's duct tape shorts were in the air to
breathe in breathe out.
After that we thought that was the climax of the weekend, I
was ready to come back to Canada
that night. When we heard the amazing news that Sunday afternoon at 3:45
Senator Barrack Obama would be speaking his second to last speech before the
election we knew we were obligated to be there. So we got in line for nearly 3
hours with 10's of thousands of others and waited, moved a few feet and waited
repeat that for another hour. Some sang, some chanted, all just smiled. We
laughed collectively while entrepreneurs made some profit selling everything
buttons reading "Barrack in the day" while sporting images of him in
high school. There were skull caps, posters "Yes we can" towels and
"No Bush" panties. Look at him all ready creating jobs the Americans
so desperately need. After clearing the security scanners and pat downs we
found a place and nestled into the crowd about 150 ft away from the stage. The
excitement was magnetic. People of all ages, races, shapes and faces coming
together in a call of hope and change. When Bruce Springsteen took the stage to
start the rally it became so real the significance of this moment and how much
we all were a part of it. In his white collared shirt, blue jeans, Harmonica
around his neck and guitar in hand he looked like Dylan to me. With his sleeves
rolled up to the elbow he looked as if he was about to repair the dream machine
that had been jammed for the last 8 yrs. His sand paper voice stripped away the
grime as the strumming of his guitar prepared the valves to be oiled . The song
about Youngstown, Ohio stays with me still. His delivery made
me feel proud for Americans. The sense of history, the significant role Ohio had played in
thwarting rebel soldiers advances. The battle that was being fought now was
clear to the crowd. Everyone knew that Barrack could not win unless he won the
State so the stakes were high. When the Obama's finally took the stage the
crowd erupted in cheer and immediately started chanting "yes we can"
yes we can"! To feel the belief of 40,000 + was moving. In the video my hand
is shaking. I really feel that was the energy of the crowd. I could not steady
it as hard as I tried. His presence was so strong and reassuring he silenced
the crowd with just his hands. He felt like a preacher with out preaching. His
message was clear. America
I will work on getting you jobs, I will work on providing you with affordable
health care and I will work on getting you back in your homes. But he also made
it clear it is not going to be easy and he requires all Americans to work
together. That right now in face of one of the countries toughest hours that
they as people all need to unite. He spoke of peace and just treatment for all.
I was moved and I believe a new day has come. Only the
future knows what cards history is holding.
8:49 PM
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