Practical Polyamory™

Monogamy works well for some but not others. Social status, religion, race, sexual orientation, and political philosophy don’t matter. Honesty, openness, love, commitment, communication, patience, and egalitarianism do. Here I pass along what I’ve learned and teach at events on common challenges polyamorists encounter and their practical remedies, along with thoughts on related subjects such as community organizing, activism, and sexual freedom. Feel free to comment – and welcome!

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

President-Elect Obama!

WOOOO HOOOOO! Today was an amazing, amazing day. Hope and sanity have returned to the United States. Beginning in January it's going to be a lot more fun working a block from the White House than it has been for the last eight years.

And THANK DIETY that Sarah Palin won't be vice president. That woman is seriously scary.

Seriously.

McCain is giving a gracious concession speech as I write this. He has acknowledged the significance of this day for African Americans. I am so happy for my African American friends and the African American community. Some thought they would never live to see this day come. Sadly, Obama's grandmother died yesterday, the day before her dear grandson made history.

This just hit my in box. One of the things I've enjoyed as an Obama supporter has been how personalized the Obama campaign's correspondence with supporters has been. This is what Obama has to say before even making his acceptance speech.

From: Barack Obama
To: Anita Wagner
Sent: Tuesday, November 4, 2008 11:34:44 PM
Subject: How this happened

Anita --

I'm about to head to Grant Park to talk to everyone gathered there, but I wanted to write to you first.

We just made history.

And I don't want you to forget how we did it.

You made history every single day during this campaign -- every day you knocked on doors, made a donation, or talked to your family, friends, and neighbors about why you believe it's time for change.

I want to thank all of you who gave your time, talent, and passion to this campaign.

We have a lot of work to do to get our country back on track, and I'll be in touch soon about what comes next.

But I want to be very clear about one thing...

All of this happened because of you.

Thank you,

Barack

3 comments:

Unknown said...: Sparkler and I made the city of Nashua, NH, our adopted home for campaign work. From August through 6 p.m. last night, I knocked on 835 doors for Obama and Jeanne Shaheen. I was up at 4:45 a.m. yesterday to get to the Dr. Crisp Elementary School for a 9-hour shift as a poll checker, then joined the knock-and-drag canvassing. (If they haven't voted by the final hours according to the poll-check records, you knock on their door and try to drag them to the polls.)

A few weeks ago it became clear that New Hampshire was a sure thing. We kept doing it so that a generation from now we can tell our grandchildren, when they learn about it in school, that we were part of making it happen.

Alan M.; November 5, 2008 at 10:30 AM
Unknown said...: as a serious question, how has Obama's election been a triumph for Relationship Choice? As a poly-bi, I would love the legal choice to be mine, but do you really see it happening, especially when Congress must pass the laws?; November 13, 2008 at 2:26 PM
Anita Wagner Illig said...: Brian, here's my comment to the same question on my previous post. Though we've just taken a huge leap forward in many ways, I don't imagine Obama is going to focus on the needs of the non-monogamous. After all, just now there are huge issues of much greater import that need his attention.

Yes, his failure to support same-sex marriage is certainly a disappointment. Still, when I hold him up against George W. Bush and recall how Bush via his obligation to the extreme religious right permitted idealogues to pressure the National Institutes of Health to halt any studies that involve sexuality, I can't help but feel hopeful about our chances under President-Elect Obama.

Ditto re Justice Department prosecutions/witch hunts targeting porn producers. Surely at minimum Obama will see devoting time and attention to sexual minorities if not a high priority, at least not something to actively oppose. Considering how enpowered the opposition has been under this Bush presidency - especially via tax-payer funding of millions of dollars towards abstinence-only sex ed and shoring up monolithic one man, one woman, heterosexual, monogamous, till-death-do-us-part marriage - that's no small thing.

Thanks for commenting!; November 21, 2008 at 8:19 AM