a new day has dawned

i've had the crappiest schedule imaginable this academic quarter--both load-wise and distribution-wise, and it's over!  well, there's still lots of grading to do and lots of help to students who seek it, but actual class time has ended at long last.  i know, i know, it makes me weep also.

but seriously, folks, the election of the first black president is really really cool.  last night i actually felt in some sentimental way the fulfillment of many of the promises and values i remember from my upbringing, especially since ohio--my home state--didn't betray me this time.  like many people my age, i grew up watching "sesame street," with its gentle reasonable arguments about people getting along in communities of difference (race, age, temperament and lifestyle) and liking to learn stuff; i also grew up in a roman catholic church that seemed interested in, and even sometimes devoted to, social justice.  all of those promises were subsequently betrayed.  i wonder what will happen now?

besides the cool sentimental and historical and racial aspects, i don't agree with everything obama says, and still kind of wish that good old hillary were up there.  i recall back in college or early grad school or something speculating that the US would elect a black man long before they would elect a woman.  i am gratified to have been able to learn the answer to that question so soon, while i am still so young, no less.

but!  the big O seems so incredibly smart and competent and i have very high hopes.  here are the other things that i think are SO AWESOME about the election:

• the rest of the world sees that we don't just elect ignorant stuttering pampered religious fanatic boobs!
  
• joe biden is our vice president!  (i am especially excited about this one, i must say)
  
• all the competent and educated and knowledgable people with which obama will staff his administration--no graduates from regents university!  no science suppressors!  no people who think the pain of childbirth is punishment for eve's sins!  no snake-handlers!  
• the role model he will provide for so many kids!  (holy SHIT, this is truly deeply, long-term awesome)

since you're still reading, i will also opine that mccain's concession speech was the first time in over a year that john mccain has seemed like a human being.  i will also say that mccain's crowd's response was creepy and scary and many of the people looked like they were in the movie "bob roberts," and i shudder to think what was going through their minds.  lastly, i am compelled to point out that todd palin's face looks like an anus.