Originally uploaded by jmtimages
Never in my lifetime….
Never in a million years…
Did I think I would live to see this day.
I thought maybe my children…
Maybe my grandchildren…
would see it.
It was too impossible…
Why even dare to dream…
when so many dreams are deferred?
But there he is!
This goes beyond being Black,
beyond being American.
It means that when God’s decree is set,
and when you place yourself on the path of excellence and accomplishment,
anything is possible.
ANYTHING is possible.
We have come so far but still have so far to go…
and to think that only 50 years ago,
the police dogs, the riots, the protests, the bombings…
only 100 years ago, the lynchings, the burnings,
only 150 years ago…
slavery was over and a reign of terror began.
and 200 years ago America’s wealth was built on the backs of our people.
**************************
From slave ships to the highest seat in office.
And never have I’ve been more proud of my beautiful Black American self.
So may our new president-elect govern us with wisdom, patience and intellect.
May God guide him to do well and to do his best.
It will take more than four years to clean this mess but….
ANYTHING is possible.
fahad said,
November 5, 2008 at 5:43 am
Alhamdulillah.
Regardless of anyone’s political leanings, or whether or not they liked Obama, one at least has to concede that Obama’s ascent to the presidency is an unquestioningly historic moment for this country. To think that some people who voted today actually lived at a time where black americans had to pay a poll tax to vote (if they got to vote at all), just shows how far we have come. Definitely something to be proud of.
Umm Layth said,
November 5, 2008 at 6:48 am
Truly an amazing moment…especially to those who have lived through all of the injustices…who would have never dreamed of something like this, subhana’Allah.
May Allah answer your du’a’ Ameen
Allahu Akbar!
danielabdalhayymoore said,
November 5, 2008 at 7:10 am
I’m 68 years old, lived through Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, LBJ, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan (well, you get the point) and after Bush’s 8 years which have felt worse in many ways than the Vietnam era, and afterwards, Nixon and Reagan, I thought we’d never see light again the way we thought we did with Kennedy, when I was in my early 20s. (And my wife, Malika, was present in Washington for the great “I have a dream” speech by King.)
There was a wave then (yes, I was in Berkeley, California as well), and the idealism was not very grounded but very real, but it’s come again. Regardless of differences of policy nuances by his detractors, or the chillier intellectuals, this is a Renaissance, a Redemption, and a new era of history opening out toward a future America that might not resemble the one we’re leaving.
But we must pray hard for God’s protection over Obama and his family, because madmen and outraged corporate and Republican types will spend every living moment trying to tear him down.
But our souls’ collective power over evil will prevail, and some new alchemy will be forged, insha’Allah, for our country and its image in the world.
Bint-eh Adam said,
November 5, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Salam Kelly x x x x
Praying for wonderfully good stuff ahead for you and your’s my friend
Amen to Sidi D’s prayer.
Best Wishes and Love from England
x x x x x x x x x x
Umm Layth said,
November 5, 2008 at 3:51 pm
///But we must pray hard for God’s protection over Obama and his family, because madmen and outraged corporate and Republican types will spend every living moment trying to tear him down.\\\
You’re so right subhana’Allah.
UmmFarouq said,
November 5, 2008 at 5:14 pm
My father used to sneak his (black) best friend onto the Birmingham-Southern College campus, so he could visit my parents who lived in married student housing. My father used to attend rallies at Miles College. I’ve been to Tuskeegee, I’ve been to Selma, I’ve been to Montgomery, and I’m from Birmingham, where Jim Crow tried to hold on to days long past, and failed. Alabama, USA, gave Obama over 800,000 votes yesterday. Don’t tell me hearts can’t change, because they can. It’s funny how my heart was born without all that ugly prejudice–it’s something I could never wrap my mind around, something I feared and hated; for that, to Allah I am ever-grateful.
musicalchef said,
November 6, 2008 at 2:15 am
Ameen to your du’a. Nice reference to Langston Hughes
musicalchef said,
November 6, 2008 at 2:15 am
Ameen to your du’a. Nice reference to Langston Hughes
thelegacymaker said,
November 6, 2008 at 4:10 am
powerful! Barack Obama is a sign to all of the world, that we all are capable of greatness of service to ourselves and to others if we work hard and keep G-d first.
Dynamite Soul said,
November 7, 2008 at 6:58 am
A Righteous Wind, indeed!
Dear Kelly,
I seriously thought about buying a flag magnet today. Despite the many generations before me and the fact that I was born in the U.S., I am finally beginning to feel like a full American citizen.
I also believe that people really prayed for Obama and his family. I’m hoping the prayers continue. danielabdalhayymoore is right.
It seems that everything was so perfect, you couldn’t make this up if you wanted to.
To have a president who can identify with damn-near everyone in some way, and actually displays empathy toward people is exciting.
Let this be a catalyst for positive change here and abroad, and let us pray for the wisdom to be able to restore the reputation of our country through just means.
livinglifeandlovinit said,
November 9, 2008 at 1:36 am
ASA, Yours is the first blog I have gone to that is not trippin about why be happy we are Muslim and should not vote crap. I am so happy to read these comments from people who understand what this election meant not only to Americans but to the world.
Anzala Alozie said,
November 9, 2008 at 6:36 am
MashAllah for this eloquent and insightful post. Truly, it was written and decreed for Barack to lead this country.
izzymo said,
November 9, 2008 at 8:11 am
Fahad: Ameen, ameen. Anything bringing an end to Bush’s regime HAS to be good.
Umm Layth: Oh, it was God’s decree but I hope somehow that my great-grandmother knows about this. She would have been ecstatic.
Daniel: Salaams and thanks for coming to my blog. Thanks for the sober reminder. See how viciously they are tearing into Palin? If they do that to one of their own, what will they do to Obama? These fanatics do not take defeat with grace. It will be very upsetting to see these people make war against their own president—even though they claim to be the real patriotic Americans.
Bint: We must catch up, we have to talk, hon!
Umm Farouq: Ameen! Though I knew it would happen, Louisiana went to McCain but I know for a fact that New Orleans was for Obama! Sometimes I think New Orleans should separate and form its own state! Change is coming, for better AND for worse.
Musical Chef: Salaams, hon, and thanks! How’s Jordan?
TheLegacyMaker: Ameen, ameen. May Obama keep his nose clean and keep God first. You know if he breathes to hard they’ll eat him alive.
Dynamite Soul: Hee-hee, just to show you how attitudes change…I made these American flag boxes back in 2006 but nobody wanted them. My sister tried to sell them at her church but no one bought them. Here’s a pic. http://www.flickr.com/photos/98756806@N00/118923123/in/set-72157594174454694/ I believe people will start loving this country and our flag again. I expect some good changes but I hope people don’t think that he can perform miracles, ya know?
Triple L: Ha-ha, I answered your comment above. Seriously, I love the good shaykh’s response to the question.
Anzala: Thanks for the kind words and thanks for stopping by.
imtheonlyme said,
November 12, 2008 at 8:50 pm
i was pretty pleased about the outcome!
Zaynab said,
November 15, 2008 at 1:14 am
Assalamu alaikum,
Thank you Kelly Izdihar for your moving words!
I’ve been frustrated with the cynicism of Muslims both overseas and at home who want to burst my bubble with their “voting is un-Islamic/shirk/kufr/haram” arguments and dismissive attitudes toward Obama’s historic victory.
I was thrilled Obama won!
I voted for him and am not hiding it!
May Allah Ta’ala bless America and the world!
Izzy Mo said,
November 15, 2008 at 7:31 pm
Walaikum salaam,
Ignore it, hon. That’s all you can do. But I would say this to them, that if they are going to dismiss voting, then they have to replace that civic duty with something else. If you don’t vote, okay, fine. But feed the poor, volunteer at a charity org., do something other than complain about how evil the West is. And as always, IF the West is sooooo evil, they can always leave. Khalass! Pack up and move or shut-up and do something about the evils of y(our) society.