We were there: Obama’s acceptance speech in Chicago last week
by Beth
A week ago today I was emailing all my friends to give them the big news: my husband Mike and I had been lucky enough to snag tickets to the Obama victory party in Chicago’s Grant Park. We were there when the president-elect gave his acceptance speech.
Since then I’ve read many accounts of the well-behaved crowd at Grant Park that night — “all shapes, sizes, colors, and ages.” So far, though, I haven’t read any mention of people with autism or other disabilities being there. So today I’m writing this quick post to let you know — we were represented, too!
I left my Seeing Eye dog home that night — I thought the crowds might be too much. We only live four blocks away from Grant Park, so I knew we could get home to her quickly if necessary. I brought my white cane to the party instead, and Mike was my “sighted guide” as we waited and waited and waited to get in the park. There was a heavy police presence, especially on horses — more than once Mike had to route me around a big pile of dung!
In keeping with that theme, we staked out a spot near an oversized handicapped porta-potty once we made it into Grant Park. I used that lovely facility once, and when I came out an official approached us and said, “you know, you can stand over there if you want.” He pointed to a wide wooden ramp were people in wheelchairs were sitting.
We moved there, which meant Mike could see the stage. Two older African-American women were standing next to us; they were with a friend in a wheelchair. The women were spunky — they were having fun, calling friends on their cell phones and all that, but at the same time they were pretty serious. They didn’t want all the pageantry to make them forget how important this day was.
The crowd was huge, but mellow. Kids were texting, calling their friends, and constantly checking their iPhones for updates. “It’s like Woodstock,” said Mike, “except instead of drugs, people are using electronic devices!”
Well, there’s “change” for you! When McCain came on screen to give his concession speech, you could hear a pin drop. No one booed. Everyone listened. Respectfully. It was a memorable night, that’s for sure. And when President-elect Barack Obama got to the part of his speech where he said:
It’s the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled …
Well, I cheered. For all of us!