some thoughts on the election and the reactions of some people, from an "outsider"

I'm gonna write this one in English...

Yesterday was a historic day, not only for the US but also for the world. As someone that is not from the United States and that doesn't feel patriotic towards the United States I can assure you that yesterday I felt proud of those who voted for the first black president in the history of the United States. The outcome of this election is a symbol of progress. One of the things that bothers me the most about the United States is that horrible period of racial segregation. Yesterday some of those African Americans that were denied an entrance to a school, a bus, or a theater voted for a president of their own race, something that they probably never thought could happen after what they've been through. I had a hard time controlling my emotions when I saw the joy in the faces and the tears coming from the eyes of those who have been so badly treated.

And although yesterday was a day that we will all remember and tell our children and grandchildren about, some people could not see past a loss that everyone was already expecting anyway. I remember seeing McCain's rallies and thinking "what is wrong with these people? these are supposed to be the 'conservatives' of the United States?" Seeing and hearing people say things like "Obama bin lyin," or that Obama is a Muslim and a socialist made me doubt that this country would actually pick an African American president, because those comments are packed with racism and an obvious lack of knowledge.

I thought that those comments came mostly from uneducated people that don't even know the definition of Muslim or socialism, but yesterday I was horrified to see college students on Facebook talking about socialism and linking Obama to Osama Bin Laden. What horrified me the most is that a lot of those students share my religion, a religion that is all over the world and accepts all political views and races, a religion that teaches us to support our president and to love our enemies. It's funny to me that those same people were the ones that got offended when others criticized Bush, the most unpopular president in the history of the United States; now they are comparing their next president to a terrorist? WOW

I was afraid that this would happen if Obama won. I was afraid that because of the desperate rallies that Palin and McCain carried out where the audience yelled "kill him" and "terrorist," once Obama got elected there would still be a group of people that would not accept the defeat and get over their partisanship and work for a better nation. I hope with all my heart that those that are not of my faith won't link the LDS church with the angry far-right that compares their president to a terrorist.

I'm optimistic that this nonsense will go away soon and that people will realize that if they want their country to progress its time to let go of the things that have been holding them back. It is because of those attitudes that people around the world hate the United States. (I'm sorry if that offends you, but if you haven't noticed then it's time you do!)

This is just an observation from a "legal alien" that happens to be watching what goes on around her while she lives in the US. I don't hate the US, and I'm not a democrat or a republican simply because I'm not from the US, so no, I'm not being partisan either. More than sharing my political views my intention has been to share my opinion on a historic event and how people have reacted to it from one perspective of a foreigner. I commend those Americans that are proud of their country for making this decision and that are enthusiastic about the next four years. Again, I'm optimistic about those that have yet to see that their attitude is only going to damage all the good that could get done if this country could be more united.

"We see increased conflict between peoples in the world around us. Those divisions and differences could infect us." President Henry B. Eyring
Let's not let that happen