Election Night in Rochester, NY

First he posted "Palin, Because We Don't Need It," his passionate essay
on fellow Wasilla, Alaska resident, former VP Presidential candidate
Sarah Palin.  Today, Portugal. The Man's John Baldwin Gourley blogs
about Tuesday's historic election and what it means to those of his
generation.

http://portugaltheman.net/

We spent our election night 2008 in Rochester, New York.

I didn't cry when I read the book "Where the Red Fern Grows", however
the limits of this manly-man were pressed this Tuesday evening. This
election has become my generation's moon landing. Our moment in history.
I will always remember being in Rochester, New York on November 4th,
2008 and the people I was there with. I watched along with friends and
family and the thousands packed into Grant Park the television and the
millions more around the world watching from their homes. I was oddly
emotionless. Odd because I had been so anxious for this moment and for
this election. I knew there must be some way the election could be
stolen away once again, despite the endless polls showing exactly what
was to come. Given the last two elections, it was not too far off to be
concerned. Looking back with a day between and some time on my mind to
take this all in I realize where that calm came from.

This election was a huge step for us as a country, but only a small part
of a bigger movement. The fact alone that Barack "Hussein" Obama's
middle name was being used as a dirty word among the GOP says it all.
Why should this be a concern? Are all Muslims terrorists? Or is it all
Terrorists are Muslim? More fears to add to the list, I suppose. To look
at this from another angle you could also make the same examples of the
Conservative Christians. Should we all just go around assuming all
Christians are Timothy McVeigh and making pipe bombs in basements? Are
all Mormons Polygamists? Were the Native Americans that we found upon
coming to this country truly savages? Are we still fighting this old war
against same-sex marriage? This is equal human rights at it's most
basic. How have we come so far yet so predictably fall back on this Old
Think? We are all the same. We are people. We have our own beliefs and
our own opinions and lifestyles. Let's all try to maintain this hope and
love and this calm that was found on November 4th and continue to work
and live and work together.