Even though this post may be a bit outdated, I just wanted to follow up on Regina’s reflection on the presidential election last week.

As many of you have read and seen by now, the election night was absolutely nuts. The craze spread not only around this country, but around the world as well. I wanted to share with you couple of experiences and thoughts after witnessing this.

My mom wept after the election and through Obama’s speech. They were not tears of disappointment, but rather tears of joy and hope. His sincerity, vision, seriousness, and a sense of understanding were overpowering. This was my mother’s first election as a citizen of the United States. I believe she embodies the statement that “anything is possible in America” through her own experiences. After all, she decided to move to the United States with only two suitcases while not knowing an ounce of English or having deep understanding of the local culture and customs. All in search of a better life.

That statement—anything is possible in America, or even “the land of opportunity”—has never rang more true than on Tuesday night November 4th when the unprecedented happened. A black man with a Muslim name became the President of the most powerful and wealthiest country in the world. She couldn’t be happier for him and his family as they faced their own struggles and she hers. She cast her first vote, in Florida of all places, and the result strengthened her hope not only in the infinite possibilities, but this country as well.

I enjoyed this night as well in the streets of Seattle. It certainly was a special one. I could attempt to describe the feeling of what it was like out there, but I am afraid I would do it no justice. Hence, I found this excerpt from a local blogger who was out there as well. I think his prose captures the feeling and scene better than I could.

“It was absolute unbridled celebration. Not for any reason other than people just needed to be together to celebrate. I tried to liken it to anything else I've ever experienced. Mardi Gras came to mind, but that's a planned event. New Years Eve is comparable, but not really. This wasn't people having a party. This was people thanking each other, thanking life, thanking the world. This was people suddenly realizing that they did something. Something big and lasting and great. That they decided enough was enough, and they did something about it. It was urgent celebration. The kind that we had been waiting for. The kind that couldn't wait any longer.

It was everything we wanted to happen and never imagined was actually possible. Imagining a city of people gathering just to gather, celebrating because the occasion called for it, cheering and hugging and laughing because everything had gone right...it was unbelievable in the truest sense of the word.

Yes, it'll take me a long time to digest this. President Barack Obama from Kansas, Hawaii, Indonesia, Kenya. President Barack Obama from community organizing in Chicago. It's okay to believe in something. It's not ridiculous to hope and have faith in the power of the human spirit, the definitive, life-altering power of community. It is what works.”

I am attaching few photos from the night. They were mainly posted by either locals who were there. One of pictures was in the Seattle Times the following morning. The beach photo was printed in the LA Times.