YES WE CAN!!!!

(last night at the Obama Rally in Manassas, VA)....

I'm in Manassas, VA with over 80,000 other people who support change... who support Barack Obama! It's so exciting and amazing. On the eve of the most important election of my lifetime, I'm honored and humbled to witness this in person again (my 1st Obama rally was during the primary season at Georgia Tech). To hear my grandmothers and other elders who experienced the civil rights movement... who know 1st hand the time when there were "Whites Only" and "Colored Only" signs at restaurants, restrooms, drinking faucets, etc.... talk about the time when they couldn't vote in the South because of Jim Crow laws. 40 years really is not a long time. They fought, dealt with injustice just so I could witness this - it's simply amazing. Ok one moment Barack just got here so I'll have to continue in a few...

(this morning, election day)....

After standing with 80,000 people, we waited almost 3.5 hours to leave the parking lot. It was 1:00 am when the police came to direct traffic but I was so surprised at how patient everyone was and how their spirit was not broken because of the wait. In this election, people refuse to be denied. No matter how long the wait. I've heard and read countless stories of elderly and disabled persons standing and waiting. One story in particular really moved me... a lady who was well over 70 and could barely walk waited in line patiently for her chance to vote. She had to have help to bring her to the polls and walk her through the line but she did not complain. Every hour or so she would take a pill to help her with her arthiritis, headache and other ailments but she would not go home. Her helper urged her to leave but she refused. She said, "I'd rather die with a headache having had the opportunity to vote for Obama." It is stories like this one that makes this election so special for me. So as I stand in line at 6:45 am (btw, the line is wrapped around the building), I'm inspired. I'm inspired to cast my ballot no matter what. I'm voting for Barack Obama because he inspires me to believe in my power to change my community and my world. Three little words, "Yes We Can," transform the way we dream, the way we see our future. I know that anything is truly possible in America. I know that when we set our mind to it, we definitely can do it and when we vote, we will do it. Regardless of your candidate - president, state senators/House Representatives, city council, etc, GO OUT AND VOTE! Exercise your rights. Believe in your power. We can't afford to complain about the "system" if we don't do our part to change. Voting is that integral part. YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN! YES WE WILL!

VOTE TODAY!!!