Joy and pain, sunshine and rain

Joy
I think my friend Maggie may have summed it up best when she asked this in an email earlier today: Could it be possible that we took back the house, the senate, and the gubernatorial majority, will have the first female speaker, Donald Rumsfeld's resignation, and defeated the abortion ban all in one 24 hour period? I almost feel like it's all too good to be true.

Nancy Pelosi's "First 100 Hours" are looking to shake out well for Dems, that's for damn sure.

Clearly, I am excited about the results of yesterday's elections. Last night, as I sat in the bar with friends, watching/explaining the results, I was overcome with a sense of joy. When Dennis Hastert gave his awkward acceptance speech to supporters in downstate IL, I was literally laughing out loud. Today, those feelings have only intensified. As I watched President Bush admit to a "thumpin" in the elections during this afternoon's press conference, I had to hide my smile from my AP students. And when a reporter asked the president if he'd support a measure to bring democracy to DC (by giving us voting rights in at least the House) like he had for Iraq, I almost stood up and cheered.

I'm hopeful for Virginia to be called in our favor, even though I know that nothing will be certain there any time soon. I'm excited that Rahm Emanuel (from the great state of Illinois) got some much deserved spotlight last night. I'm looking forward to a change in the debate in this country, even if monumental chages have to wait a while. And I'm losing my mind over the fact that there was over 40% voter turnout yesterday.

Democrats seem to have won last night, which the liberal in me LOVES, but the government teacher in me thinks democracy won as well.

Pain
All is not happy in the world of election results though. Three things make my heart hurt today (literally).

1. The constitutional amendment to ban same sex marriage passed in Wisconsin.
   Call me naive, but I really thought WI stood a chance at becoming the first state to defeat a proposed constitutional ban and begin to turn the tide against this ridiculous trend. My friend Austin called homophobia the last acceptable form of discrimination in our society and I think he's right. The phrases and comments I hear thrown about my 7th-12th grade school tell me that a whole lot of people think it is 100% okay to hate on gay people - that they are different and somehow less deserving of respect. And these amendments justify that type of thinking. Don't waste your breath telling me this is about protecting the sanctity of marriage (hello divorce rate...) or preserving the traditional American family (what IS that anyway?) or that it is about morality (whose morality?!). These amendments legislate lifestlye choices and as someone who teaches students every day that the Constitution is meant to protect individual rights and promote the common good, I just can't abide by that. So, I'll continue to fight against these measures (in WI, MA...wherever they arise) because regardless of my sexuality or the sexuality of my friends/relatives/students, this type of legislation is just plain wrong. (Check out a great perspective on the issue here.)
2. Tammy Duckworth lost in Illinois.
   This is another case of a loss where I just really expected a win. She is a mother AND a veteran who lost her legs in Iraq...how do you NOT vote for her?! Every time I heard her speak or read an interview, I was impressed. She didn't just spew liberal rhetoric and her answers seem to have thought, not flash, behind them. I hear her concession speech was a good one, which I'm glad to hear, I just wish the 1am text from a friend at her party in IL said, "WIN!" not "She lost."
3. DC residents still don't have much ballot power.
   Last night I went to see a politically-themed one-man show with some friends of mine. After the show, we were hanging out at the theater's bar, talking elections with a man from Maryland. When he found out we were all from the District he made a face as if to dismiss our voter status. And my friend Dave said, "So guys, how'd you like voting for City Council?!" and raised his hands in mock excitement. My sister called to remind me to vote and then remembered where I live and said, "Unless you don't have anyone to vote for in which case...sorry." I am hopeful that DC voting rights will become a real discussion this year (there is a possibility of at least one vote in the House, balanced with Utah) and if so, I hope all of you will join in the call for full enfranchisement of all the country's citizens. After all, it's kind of tough to teach DC children that the Revolutionary War was fought over lack of representation in the British legislature when they and their families are facing the same situation right now and no one seems to mind very much at all.

Sunshine
My face is glowing. Has been all day. I just can't help it. In London's Guardian newspaper, commentator Martin Kettle wrote: "The cheering can be heard not just in America itself but around the planet." How can you not see sunshine today?

Rain
Literally. It's raining here. Has been for two days. When I turned off my lights today to use my projector, it felt like nighttime. Gross. Leo has a soccer game Satuday morning, let's hope I'm not cold AND wet.

To add to all this happiness is the fact that I have an actual, no-strings-attached day off on Friday! I'm so excited, I don't know what to do!