Reflections on Wednesday in Grand Rapids, MI...

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I was only two or three people behind the barrier in front of the podium-

One man next to me, an older African-American gentleman kept uttering this is historic, we are seeing history tonight, and this was an hour or so before the event. From his questions about VP picks and stuff, I got the impression he wasn't a political junkie or even followed the news much--he even asked me at one point "He's muslim isn't he?". But he had come over four hours early to see history.

And when history came it came quickly--only a threatened factory worker introduced Barack--no other introductions. We didn't know the schedule had been moved up for the evening news--so even Barack was an early surprise----and damn, Barack Obama and John Edwards looked good. There were many of us, having waited for hours in line and inside who did not hear or believe the word (if we heard it) that Edwards would be there. The people standing near me had worked for Edwards. It was sheer joy and pandemonium when John entered--to the surprise of much of the arena.

Michigan is in a recession. As both men spoke about the economic issues--you could see the attention, and hope in the faces of many in the crowd. A lot of us have lost our good jobs or are about to--we feel the economic agony. I wouldn't have been there if I had a job. I just got my last unemployment check and am scared like so many who were there. Edwards and Obama get it and let us know that they get it. Those who make comments about "white working class" and think John McCain will get these struggling people in Michigan are crazy. There were working class people of all backgrounds, and races, and ages in that crowd. One article said 15,000 people, another 12,000.

And this wasn't in Detroit or Flint, but in Grand Rapids...Between the cheers you could see it in the faces and eyes and gazes--it was an all too brief 45 minutes or so. People hungry for hope, responding with appreciation for the substance, goals and promises offered by Edwards and Obama.

As they worked the ropeline and people called out "John, John..." or reached out to Barack-who worked that line with poise and grace. It wasn't a cult thing--people wanted to touch someone that offered them hope--someone that they imagined truly might help their predicament. Yeah there was one excited young woman who almost screamed with delight afterward "He touched me, I touched him." But most just wanted physical contact with two men whose messages brought them hope. To reach out to someone who might get in a position of power really understood and cared--who really believed it was not about him--but that his movement was about them.

Yeah,the man standing next to me was right--it was historic.

Yeah I could have touched him, my hand was one of ten or so reaching forward, he missed my hand as he tried to touch so many--with both of his hands reaching out... but it was okay, I can live with it....