Election Euphoria

Nov 6, 2008 by Suzy Ogé    2 Comments    Posted under: Inspiring, Politics, Social Issues

Once in a lifetime…

This photo was taken by photographer Daphne Johnson as we entered the Kurhaus Hotel along with my friend Lisa for the “Who’s the President?” Breakfast just before 5:00 a.m. CET.

At that moment, it felt like a dream.  Unfortunately, once inside, the mixed crowd’ s level of enthusiasm was a buzz kill; mild, not wild.  I had expected more from the crowd of over 1,000 extremely early risers.  We were among the last to leave, unsure what to do next?   What to do with yourself when your dream has come true? When the world has changed? When everyone else is going on about their business, to work, to school, etc.?

I would have given anything to experience this momentous occasion at Grant Park. (I had been sulking in the office the day before when Barack didn’t call to invite me).  The big screens in the hotel showed people  filling the streets in cities across the US.  It was a movement and I longed to be part of it.  Unable to assemble enough people for a street parade in Scheveningen, despite having some big decorations from the event in our possession, we proceeded to our office for a Champagne toast.  Even with a nice bottle of Gossett, it was difficult to entice people away from their Wednesday morning work routine.

Going through the day in a daze, I ended up spending a lot of time in the car.  Wanting to be in motion, I called the babysitter to say I’d pick up my son from school and offered my husband a lift to the airport.  Proudly sporting my Obama Gear and tireless grin, I encountered the change on the streets.  People were making eye contact and even smiling.  This is not done in the Netherlands! (Maybe it was my cheesy plastic stars and stripes hat that made them smile?)

The biggest and most surprising response came from the parents at the French school.  As a group they are not overtly friendly, but there were cheers and congratulations all around from people I’ve never met before!  It was electric and it seemed that just by seeing me (a token American) there at that moment, they felt connected to the day.

One mother told me that she had watched the election results that morning before school with her son instead of cartoons.  She was explaining about Barack Obama during his speech when the boy suddenly got very excited and said,  “Mama, look he smiled at me!”  When a five year old French boy who doesn’t even speak English, sees Barack Obama for the first time and believes that Barack Obama is speaking directly to him, it makes perfect sense.  Barack Obama has broken through the noise and reached people of all races and nationalities in a way that no one else has ever done, not in my lifetime!

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