a sense of hope

I'm sure from the title, everyone knows what (who) this post will be about, BUT I post to be aware of the mindset we're marketing too. The majority of American voted for "hope" and even with the looming recession in sight, they are optimistic about the future of our economy. Just FYI.

This is from the Seattle Weekly.

So we won. Now what?

Stunned Samudra

Dear Samudra,

Before we surrender to the media-driven "What's next?" mindset, let us first take a moment to soak in the joy. We've become so accustomed to shame, fear, and anger these past eight years that joy may be an unfamiliar sensation. Do not be alarmed. On the contrary, sink into it like a healing bath after a long, cold day. Let it wash over you, the feeling that your country is a place where you belong after all. The relief that your fellow citizens have turned out to be not bigots crouching in the caves of ignorance, but patriots standing tall in the bright light of reason.

I personally made it a point to soak in a lot of joy at the bar in Fremont where I spent election night. I actually left work at three and got a bit of an early start on my celebrating. I wasn't worried a bit about jinxing anything. By the time Barack came on TV, it was quite a scene. It was like that photo of the nurse and the soldier kissing in Times Square. There were strangers embracing, there was weeping, there was dancing. All three at once in some cases. The sight of Obama at that moment just made everyone lose it. Not that this is about any cult of personality. It's about us, and the kind of country that we still are despite everything. The feeling—and I know this will sound dopey, but I don't care—is hope. The great light of hope is burning bright right now. Whatever storms may be still to come, let us bask with full hearts in the sunshine of this moment.