Reflections...

An Idea Whose Time Has Come
By Peggy M. Porter

Walking into the crowd tonight, I was enveloped by people of all colors, all ages, all styles––united for one purpose: To move forward, south to Grant Park. But what they were really doing was, ‘believing forward.’ The crowd was energized and anticipatory, but seemed to also embrace a restraint born from the urge to be considerate of others.

Again and again, pieces of conversations drifted my way—always with the theme, “you can’t believe this.” But, of course, you do believe “this.”

This moment could not have been denied.

Historians will analyze how Barack Obama won with facts about the use of the media, the use of the Internet and the genius of campaign strategist David Axelrod. All are parts to this wonder. But what really gave birth to this moment? It was “an idea whose time had come.” Author Victor Hugo wrote those six words more than 150 years ago. And the kernel of meaning in those words, tonight bounced off this polite crowd.

The night’s magic was sprinkled even over the men in blue—Chicago’s finest, the police. Two female tactical officers leaned against a fence, their arms stretched across its top.

A tall gentlemanly dad, leaned forward toward his four children. The eldest boy is in fourth grade, his sister is in third grade, and the father’s two smallest children, a boy and a girl, are in kindergarten. Even if it was late to be out on a school night, they said would not miss school in the morning. Their father added, “My people must not miss the point of all this.”

All of this, on a night when the often moody November Chicago weather overachieved, the lighted buildings flashed and sparkled, and for at least this once for a sea of humanity, people experienced the words: “Everything is perfect.”