Jackson Free Press

In my election hangover today, I've thought a lot about how four years ago today felt after a very bad president was re-elected. Here's our post the next morning, "Mourning in America." It was hard to feel worse than that day with a mess in Iraq and progressives under fire, here in Mississippi and around the country. We didn't know just how bad it would get during Bush's second term, or that Katrina would change us forever, or that the Republican Party of recent years would crumble under its own greed and corruption right before our eyes. We sure couldn't have known that four long years later the country would elect an openly progressive African American president with record turnout—a president with the ability to help us first face, and then heal, our divisions.

The re-election of Bush, four years after the Florida debacle was settled by a partisan U.S. Supreme Court majority, was a test of my belief in the American Dream. I held on to it, though, trying to ignore the hatemongers and working harder than ever to reach out across divides and to help give a voice to Mississippians whose voices had been ignored or squelched for so long. I found my faith on my own little postage stamp of the world, through the readers, staffers, interns and supporters of this newspaper and our mission of helping create a more diverse, compassionate city and state. I know now more than ever that you affect the world one person at a time.

For me today, I can only say that my prayers have been answered, and my faith in my country restored. Thank you, America.

Previous Commentsshow

This is still sinking in for me and it will take a while for it to do so. I have a renewed since of optimism for this still great nation. Sure, Obama isn't going to get it done overnight and he isn't gonna do every single thing right, but I believe that he will take us back on the path where we are respected in the world again and where this country will be a lot better off when he leaves office than it was when he came in.

golden eagle

Nov 5 2008

Donna, this election remids me of almost four years ago when I thought I was supporting the right person for Mayor of the City of Jackson. Frank Melton had at one time the hearts and support of the citizens of Jackson. I guess we were looking for a leader like Obama for the City of Jackson. Frank Melton actions and behavior has tainted a great day for the youth of our City and State and has been a major embrassment to every African American not only inthe City of Jackson but the State of Mississippi. I wonder if his illegal acts and lies cost of candidates such as Eric Flemming and Ronnie Musgrove votes. Ms. Ladd I support Frank Melton, stood up for Fank Melton while all the time my so call friend let people ... fabricate lies against me. I guess when my so call friend (Frank Melton) want me to lie for him on the incident and the Ridgeway house and I refused sealed my fate with the City of Jackson. That's fine with me but I didn't not lie. I really wish that you would investigate some of the acts of these individuals as well as investigating me to prove who's was and still is telling the truth. Obama will do great things for our country but we still have a major task ahead of us and that is to expose any individual/s that will stop us from moving the City of Jackson, Hinds County and the State of Mississippi into a position of Honor.

Hot Sauce

Nov 5 2008

Hot Sauce, sounds like we need to talk directly. Meantime, please don't post allegations against specific people here. Otherwise, I understand the need to look for a leader who inspires. The media should have vetted Melton on everyone's behalf. We did, but we were too new then and our credibility wasn't as well established as now (ironically, thanks to our vetting of Frank Melton, not to mention warning about the Iraq War, Bush, etc.). He was the naked emperor promising the moon without people with the good sense to notice that he was too "good" to be true. I still have compassion for him, though, but there is no way such he should have ever been let near public office. And now he is likely paying the price for his refusal to step down from an office that he never liked and has no interest in being good at, once the Mobile Command Center and his guns were taken away.

DonnaLadd

Nov 5 2008

Meantime, though, let's continue Melton conversation on a different thread where he's the topic. ;-)

DonnaLadd

Nov 5 2008

Amen. I have been dancing around my room to Stevie Wonder since Tuesday. Here Obama is, "Signed, Sealed Delivered" and I couldn't feel more patriotic and hopeful for a new chapter in this country. Wish I could've been there with you all to celebrate Nov. 4 :)

LisaKA

Nov 7 2008