The SECB was at Darcy Burner’s election-night celebration when all hell broke loose. We wept when Obama gave his speech, and an Obama-happy Iranian lady clutched at us when the vote was announced. She was quickly followed by an old woman—a longtime Kennedy fan—who grabbed at us as though we were on fire. Nobody could really uderstand that this was the current situation, that the election was decided. Everybody grabbed at strangers as though the moment was real.

Bellevue was not as crazy as Seattle reportedly is at the moment, but it was sincere. To hug complete strangers at the ascendancy of a Democratic presidency, at the first moment on the planet earth that a western industrialized nation has accepted a minority as its leader, is beyond believable at this point. No Democratic president has assumed this level of acceptance from his electorate since FDR. This is completely stunning. Bellevue is in awe, as are we all.

More in NEWS

Local (and not-so-local) news from your favorite writers.

The Stranger Election Control Board is composed of staff writers and editors who volunteer to grill, research, fight over, and ultimately endorse candidates running for office in local, state, and federal...

5 replies on “We Were in Bellevue”

  1. the first moment on the planet earth that a western industrialized nation has accepted a minority as its leader

    Not to nitpick, but Jean Chrétien was a member of the Quebecois minority, and he wasn’t the first (that would be Wilfrid Laurier).

    Also, Benjamin Disraeli was ethnically though not observantly Jewish, and French Prime Minister Léon Gambetta was the son of an Italian immigrant.

  3. Are we considering women as ‘minorities’?

    ‘Cause if we are, Canada’s had one of those (briefly), too; Kim Campbell.

    Jesus, even *France* has had one of those (briefly)… .

    If you extend the definition of ‘Western industrialized countries’, then toss in Alberto Fujimori in Peru.

    Guess it depends on how you define ‘minority’.

Comments are closed.