By Staff
The faces in the crowd at Grant Park in Chicago Tuesday evening, waiting for hours for President-elect Obama to appear were happy and full of hope.
They were also all colors, ages and backgrounds.
There was Oprah, leaning on a friend probably from having to stand so long in one place crowded together.
There was Jesse Jackson with tears streaming down his face.
Though my son Matthew lives nearby, he decided to skip the massive crowd, but he was excited to the possibility that one of the professors from his law school, University of Illinois, could possibly become President of the United States.
Someone whose hand he had shaken.
In Niles, one young man I am sure is also excited. Jerrid Burdue waited with his mother for a ticket to see Obama when he came to Washington High School in South Bend, Ind., for a rally back in April.
He, too, has now shook the hand of a soon-to-be President.
One of the differences I have seen in this election is the involvement of the younger generations.
That isn't to say our seniors aren't participating. I saw a woman on the news who was about 90 waiting in line to vote.
The press interviewed a woman who is 109, whose own father was a slave until he was 12 years old.
I know a 70-year-old man with cancer, on oxygen, who made the effort to go out and vote.
Look at all those people throughout the country who waited for hours in long lines.
I just have never engaged with my children (young adults) about politics as I have during this election.
They all didn't agree and each had their own reasons for their choices.
What was great was that they were listening, asking questions and wondering about how this election would effect our future.
This has to be good for our country.
I also hope we (and I include myself), are learning to live within our means, or under our means.
We have run up credit cards and, unlike some big companies and banks, there won't be a bailout for us when we get in trouble.
Even if they are trying to help some people keep out of foreclosure, there will be many, many more whom they won't be able to help.
Obama said we will need to work together. He is right. He can't make all the changes necessary by himself. He needs the people to work together.
I am always amazed by the goodness of so many, whether donating to food banks, supporting someone with cancer by attending a fish fry or giving of their time at a nursing home.
Maybe I am just an optimist, but I think most people are good and aren't just out for themselves. I see it everyday.
I did have a moment of worry last night as I watched him walk out in front of the crowd that all it would take is one fool to end the dream.
I pray the Secret Service can protect him and his family from harm.
Being from Chicago it is especially exciting for me to see this adopted son go so far.
Let us all join together in our congratulations and hope for the future. And let us realize change takes time, we need to be patient and not expect it to happen overnight.
She can be e-mailed at marcia.steffens@leaderpub.com.