At the dawning of the American morning, my inbox presents me with the headlines of the NY Times, heralding "Obama Elected President as Racial Barrier Falls". On Wednesday, nothing could make me happier, our own current politics looking so decidedly grim for the approaching weekend, the article was generous enough to share the opinion of the Bush administration as "historically unpopular". It is undoubtedly this aura of national catharsis following the election that has veiled the tears of magnanimous proportion that are now due to fall.
Perhaps the landslide victory of a Black president will be shield enough for the largely intolerant, chauvinistic, homophobic and bigoted land of milk and honey. In a stunning victory for religious conservatives, who had little else to celebrate following the defeat of Senator John McCain, a state ballot in California called 'Proposition 8' titled "Eliminates right of same sex couples to marry" was passed with a majority. And yes, they're stoked. As I'm sure many remember the news that the California Supreme Court had included the right of marriage for same-sex couples as part of their states constitution in May this year was the cause of much celebration. I know I personally viewed this as an action of unity and long awaited acknowledgement of equality within the population. California was a particularly important victory in my eyes, (and I'm not alone on this opinion) as a critical assessment of this acceptance for the nation.
It seems that much of America and the areas of the world looking over their election are basking in something of a political post-orgasmic glow after the climax of Obama. Without wanting to deny the kind celebration and jubilation this event deserves, it is bittersweet in light of the loss of validity for some 17,000 couples that have been married since June.
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