[Dialogue] OBAMA

[R Williams]

In his acceptance speech, President Elect Obama said something to the effect that this is not the change we need, but now we're ready to make the change we need.  To the contrary, if he never did another thing, Obama's election is huge change in and of itself.  Part of the evidence is Adam's statement and those of our other colleagues from afar.  None of us will ever be the same.
 
Randy

--- On Wed, 11/5/08, Adam Thomson <dmtmsn at language.eclipse.co.uk> wrote:

From: Adam Thomson <dmtmsn at language.eclipse.co.uk>
Subject: [Dialogue] OBAMA
To: "Order Ecumenical Community" <oe at wedgeblade.net>, "Colleague Dialogue" <dialogue at wedgeblade.net>
Date: Wednesday, November 5, 2008, 3:58 AM


>From Adam Thomson, Dover UK

This is one time when I would like to say "my fellow-Americans..." - but I cannot, since I am a Brit. This is one way of saying how absolutely overwhelmed and pleased I am with the result of the presidential election 2008.

I watched this morning (5:00 am local time) as Obama gave his speech, and tears were streaming down my face in sympathy with Jesse Jackson, Oprah Winfrey and many others in the Chicago crowd and around the country and world. I have not felt so moved for a very long time.

This is the week when I celebrate my 70th birthday. But the celebration that is really significant - even within my personal context - is the election of Senator Obama as president. I will be raising a glass of the best champagne money can buy to him and to the United States later today.

I classify this event is one of the most important in my life, along with joining the Movement in 1972, and getting married to Gayle in Chicago two years later. Memories came streaming back when I saw the Chicago skyline (even in the dark) on television earlier today: I am so grateful for having made the decision back in 1972 to abandon my career in Caracas and travel to Chicago. And I am so grateful that those whom I feel privileged to call my US colleagues (on these lists) and who were able to guide me to theological maturity and render me fit to serve in the world. For that is indeed what happened to me.

I am not sure whether I will see these US colleagues ever again (maybe I can convince Gayle that we could visit the USA again sometime following this forthcoming regime change), but I can only express again my exquisite gratitude for having met and worked with these colleagues, and having spent some of the best years of my life in the United States.

I now say, with as much emotional force as I can, "God bless the United States of America".

The best is yet to come.

Love to all

Adam, with Gayle in Dover UK.

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