Writing Down This History
November 5, 2008 by Heather Goldsmith
Filed under Home & Living
I know I have been beaten to the punch by Notebookism, but they’re right; the US election is history in the making. This moment is history in the making. Wow, there is a black president in the US. I was intrigued by the news coverage. The event has generated much discussion amongst those I engage with day to day, so I must urge you to write about this moment in history.
Do it now. Don’t wait. Spend a moment writing in your journal about the news today. Clip something out of the newspaper or print something out on your computer and glue it into your journal but don’t forget to add your own thoughts about this today. Don’t forget to describe everything, including your own emotions, in detail.
Heather
Photo used with permission from Morguefile
I just wrote in my journal about the election, came to the computer and here is your prompt!! Isn’t that cool?
I’m always surprised when people from other countries get excited about things going on here. I guess I just don’t get the perspective that we are of interest to others.
Hi Zura,
Honestly, I wasn’t even the slightest bit interested until I found out he won. The fact he is a black president is amazing. It would be even more amazing if it happened here in Australia with our prime minister. More power to you all for your choice. Thanks for commenting.
I’m fascinated at everyone describing Barack Obama as the first “black” president. No input from his white mother, then? Surely a mixed race president offers more hope of racial harmony than one claimed by a particular ethnic group?
Racial issues aside, he does seem to offer hope for a brighter future and perhaps the hope is the most important thing.
Yeah, Lisa, you’re right. I wasn’t trying to get into a racial debate. I was definitely making a sweeping generalisation and yeah, it wasn’t exact or specific, but that was on purpose. I just know it’s a big change. I’d love the see a ‘black’ prime minister here in Australia, no matter how ‘black’ he actually was. Thanks for your comment.
I came across your blog when I searched for journal prompts. I really have enjoyed going through your posts!
I have to say that the election of President-Elect Obama was very emotional for many of us over here. On the tv network I was watching they showed the crowd in Chicago – many crying, many cheering – and they were Americans of all descriptions. It hit me that this really was happening. While they showed the crowd they had Congressman Lewis from GA comment (he has long been active in our Civll Rights Movement) – and he was so emotional. I would not let myself truly believe it though, until I heard Sen. McCain’s concession speech.
Obama certainly needs to bring us hope, since we have such an economic crisis now. And I hope he can bring us together. My colleague in the History Dep’t says he feelt the great Presidents have remembered they were President of all Americans. I think he has some awareness of that and I hope he will have an administration which reflects it. I don’t teach History but have long been a History buff. It seems to me that the great Presidents have faced great challenges (Lincoln, Franklin Roosevelt…). Maybe we’d better pray that our President-Elect will be a great one, as we certainly have a great challenge ahead.
And Heather, I’m glad you’re so open to “Black” Prime Minister. Things are changing and it COULD happen. After all, there were many here who never thought to see anyone of color become U. S. President!
Hi Mollie,
Thanks so much for your response. I hope you will continue to use the journal prompts and other info as I post it on this blog. It certainly looks to me as if you are a history buff. Lol. I hope you are writing down your view of history as it happens in your journal. Thanks again for your comment.