Am I the only one who was in tears for most of the Convention

[Bandit]

I cried every single day because I see a new day rising and was overcome with emotion. I don't consider myself a "Girlie-Man" either. Just a man with real sensitivities and emotions. It was the most wondeful Convention I've ever witnessed. I had to hide from my wife most of the time because of my tears. :shrug: I don't know why as I'm not ashamed but still felt the need to hide my eyes. I am so proud of this group of people that I could just bust.

[DenverDem]

1. I am with you, bro.

What a relief to feel some comraderie with some like minded patriots. It was very emotional.

[ewagner]

2. There were some moments

for me too!

[AlCzervik]

3. Max Cleland and the Swiftboat crew did me in last night.

When Kerry wins it will be a shared voctory for all.

[ScreamingMeemie]

14. The way Max Cleland's face shone with that beautiful smile...I just

wanted to wrap my arms around him. He's really something else.

[AlCzervik]

16. Yup, i think Kerry winning will also be a win for Max and all of us too

[senseandsensibility]

35. Yes, his smile

was beautiful,energizing, and heartbreaking. I'm glad you mentioned it. God, I love Max Cleland. That story about falling out of his wheelchair....well, that did it for me. Do you know if the cable networks showed his speech? I only checked CNN, and I don't think they did.:cry:

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

4. I thought it was the most well rounded convention in years

At least Kerry didn't run out to witness an execution like Clinton did in '92 just to prove he was "tough on crime" ..the 96 convention was mainly pablum...and 00 was a total fucking BORE.

I think progressives were actually given MUCH greater weight in this convention than in the last three.

[rwork]

5. I came very close

when Al Sharpton said our votes were soaked in blood.I think the American people have experienced what blacks have been thru for generations.The theft of Democracy.

[Kanary]

22. That was my breaking point, too. The three civil rights workers,

the little girls, all the brave people who kept fighting for what should have been theirs.

Yes, that's a speech I will be playing again and again.....

We owe so much to all the people who have put themselves on the line for what is right.... The suffragettes, the Debs of this world.... Many heroes were brought to mind by Al's moving speech.

Kanary

[MODemocrat]

24. Reverand Sharpton made me cry

Telling about his Mother carrying her cleaning cloth in her purse, and working so hard to support her boy. Many things got to me, but
Max Cleland was the most emotional speech for me. He's so brave and bright. It hurt me so badly when the repukes called him un-patriotic.
They're going to eat their words in November, and I really want to see them suffer.

[lastliberalintexas]

52. Only a fraction

White America has experienced merely a *fraction* of the complete and wholesale disenfranchising visited upon Black Americans in every day of their normal lives. As much as we may try to understand the life a Black person is forced to lead in America, I doubt very seriously any white actually can. Certainly we can empathize, but probably never truly understand.

White America only thinks the last 3 years have been bad, but white America should open its eyes to what's been happening in the ghetto/barrio for the last 30.

And even that hopelessness has only been occasioned upon liberal White America. The conservative, nationalistic, mostly racist, jingoistic, other white America still has no clue- and doesn't even care to.

[Pachamama]

6. Hope is on the way? No, hope is here....Thank you John Kerry and the

Swiftboat Crew...

Wow.....

I had tears in my eyes....I felt for the first time in a very long time a sense of hope....hope for my country, hope for my children's future, hope for my fellow American's and for the future of all of our lifes. I wanted to wave my American Flag....he made it feel like it belonged to me again and not the Republican Right Wing Neo-cons...

I felt a joy in my heart that I can only say felt "right"....

I don't care what the so-called "political" pundits and experts say about Kerry's speech, whether he went too fast through it, wasn't as great as Clinton (or whoever)....all I know is that he made me feel hope again....hope for my future and my country's future which I haven't felt since Clinton left office and the whole election debacle of 2000....

I know that in America anyone who was undecided couldn't have helped but feel that....

Thank you John Kerry....I will be so proud for you to be my leader and make me proud again of this country that I love...

[ewagner]

8. When they introduced the Swiftboat

Crew, I was touched to begin with but then discovered that one of the crew was from my hometown and the tears just started rolling...........

[Pachamama]

17. Me too! Hey, do you think that AWOL can find ANYBODY from the Texas

National Guard or otherwise that will stand by him as a brother? :eyes:

[ewagner]

28. That has always

been interesting to me, that not a single, "close friend" from Military days has come forward and said, "Yeah, we flew together and partied together...we soared with the eagles and hooted with the owls".

[Pachamama]

45. Sometimes it makes you wonder.....hmmm....wonder why that is?

:think:

[Caution]

7. no, the ENTIRE Republican Party were in tears throughout

They were witnessing the beginning of the end for their warped world view.

[livetohike]

9. I cried everyday and here are the moments I remember crying

Rev. Alston straight from the heart. We should all have friends to speak that powerfully for our character.

Barack Obama and his direct, inspiring, "future of our country" presence.

Max Cleland, again speaking from his heart and experience.

Teresa Heinz Kerry and her spiritual message to remember the history of our country.

I missed (but read) the speeches of Al Sharpton and Dennis Kucinich. I probably would have gone through a box of kleenex during Dennis' speech.

Most of all, I will remember the faces of the people at the convention. The beautiful, hopeful, inspired, and diverse faces of our wonderful Democratic party.

[Tight_rope]

42. You should listen to it for yourself...see & hear...it will move you!

http://www.c-span.org/VideoArchives.asp?CatCodePairs=Special_Topic,DEMS&ArchiveDays=100&Page=4


It's on CSPAN ...Just click on Al Sharpton.

Al Sharpton, 2004 Presidential Candidate
Democratic National Convention speaker, where the day's theme is "A Stronger More Secure America."
7/28/2004: BOSTON, MA: 20 min.

[livetohike]

47. Thanks!

Will do.

[SiouxJ]

10. There were many "welling up" moments for me

it's hard not to with so many great speakers.

[Mara Steele]

11. Nothin' girlie about crying!!

Nothin' at all.

I'm sure that your wife would be very happy to see your true feelings at such a momentous occasion.

Although personally, I think I was probably in CHEERS for most of the convention...
:toast: ... I commend your emotive ability.

I think that many people are just too numb or distracted to realize like you do in their hearts, the real significance of a political event.

You sound to me like a real humanitarian spirit and a caring person, who is in touch with the spirit of your world and your country.

...Now, you shouldn't be embarassed to show THAT to your wife, should you? :-)

[proud patriot]

12. I had tears throughout

Very Energizing , Uniting ...I'm ready to fight for Kerry .

[elperromagico]

13. I was deeply moved by the 9-11 memorial section.

It was dignified. We all remember how we felt on that day, and we don't need a lot of flashy imagery to remember those feelings... all we need are words. Hearing the relatives of those lost on 9/11 always moves me deeply.

And Obama's speech, particularly the red/blue states section, moved me as well. Kerry's speech inspired me. It was a great, beautiful convention.

[carolinayellowdog]

15. Another crybaby here

Obama got me first. Then last night the Kerry daughters, Cleland, the band of brothers, and Kerry himself kept me weeping. Mostly with a sense of relief that we might be spared the horrendous future Bushco has in mind for us.

[LibDemAlways]

36. Vanessa Kerry started to well up

just before she introduced her sister, and you could feel the pride and love she felt for her dad. That was very moving. And Max is a living testament to courage. How could anyone have watched and listened to him and not felt some emotion?

Democrats - warm, caring, compassionate. It was a wonderful week.

[ignatius 2]

18. Not too many tears at Kerry's speech, I was too busy doing the

happy dance. However, when I read excerpts today, I am tearing up quite often.

Kerry can make me proud of my country once again after a dark and shameful 4 year stretch.

[carolinayellowdog]

32. Welcome to DU!

It has indeed been dark and shameful but we have kept one another sane through the horror.

[Tight_rope]

43. Welcome to DU ignatius 2!

[TNMOM]

54. tears of pride throughout

Couldn't help it. Big choking, shoulder-shaking sobs during Obama's presentation. Continuous stream during Kerry's speech. I don't know how any one could have sat through those two speeches without feeling moved. They were deeply personal testimonials to why this country is the best in the world.

[Butterflies]

19. I was emotional every night while watching

It started as soon a President Clinton walked out on the stage and the audience exploded. His speech, Obama's, Sharpton's, and John Kerry's did it for me too. I loved when the camera panned the delegates and they were cheering/clapping/crying. I felt exactly what they were feeling, and I knew I belong with those people in the big family of the Democratic Party.

[DeepModem Mom]

20. Many times through the week, and last night, never stopped wiping tears --

I was reminded so many times, in so many ways, of how much I love this country, and how much I want it back for myself, for all here, for all those delegates and speakers, for my kids and yours, for all Americans who understand what truly makes us great.

[AwakeAtLast]

21. <Wipes away tear>

<Blows nose>

Haven't stopped yet! Seriously, there were many moments that had me outriht weeping. I have never had that kind of reaction to any convention - ever. Hell, I've never had that kind of reaction to anything involiving politics. This was an outstanding convention from beginning to end.

[DaveFL99]

26. My eyes moistened

when I heard about the rescue of Licorice.

But all joking aside it was very emotional. We just say what America can be again after 3 years in the darkness.

Yesterday afternoon I thought we were toast> I was sure that Rove and the darklings were going to eat us alive because Kerry and Edwards were playing too nice. That began to change last night with Clark's speech and by the time Kerry was finished I couldn't believe there was any way we could lose. Yep, there were some tears involved.

I know Kerry is the best man for the job, not just the best in the race but THE BEST that America has to offer and I thank The Bunny (my personal deity) that he made that clear to everyone last night.

In the light of day I've lost some of my certainty in victory, as Carl Bernstein said, Rove has some very serious political operatives who will fight hard for The Shrub But, we have a chance, a damn good chance now.

There is help on the way.

[Tight_rope]

44. I was acting like I was at the convention....thought the neighbors might

call the police. On all 4 days I had the TV volume up to the max (Something I hate others doing). I was on my feet cheering, I had my hands in the air. I was screaming "Kerry for President". "Bush can go to Hell". I cried. I yelled, I was just as excited as those at the convention. I know my boyfriend didn't get much sleep (Poor man wakes up at 4:30am everyday to go to work for 16 hours). But I kept telling him "HELP IS ON THE WAY". Yes, he did watch some of it. He loves Clinton with all his heart, he refused to miss his speech. He works with the right-wing everyday and all they talk about is Clinton this and Clinton that. They say the American people are stupid. But he stands up to them when the try to dog Clinton. And they back down. Never-mind they own the company. They still respect him because he respects them.

[janx]

23. YES.

The most emotional part for me was when Kerry made the remarks about the flag. Howard Dean started that trend over a year ago, and I was so happy to see Kerry do that. It shows me that he realizes how many of us felt when we protested the Iraq war and were called unpatriotic.

The most amazing thing about the convention was that it reminded me of just how hard every one of the primary candidates has worked and is working to get Kerry/Edwards elected and to get Chimpy out. It's a lot of work, but the convention was so greatly inclusive and so positive that it was truly a sight to behold.

[MODemocrat]

25. Men with sensitivities and emotions are beautiful to me

Every once in a blue moon, my husband will hold back his tears; such as when our daughter is getting ready to leave to fly back home to California, or when he loses one of our favorite pets, but he seems so masculine to me.

[Fed Up]

27. I was glued to TV for four days. Wonderful convention.

Everything was 100% class. I was so jealous watching all the delegates and thinking, "Why didn't I ever get into that?"

My life seems so boring compared to what I just witnessed.

[carolinayellowdog]

33. It won't be boring for the next 100 days

Welcome to DU, bro!

[Fed Up]

53. thanks.

[enki23]

29. even i did a little, on occasion

and i'm not really prone to that sort of thing. even if it turns out to be a lost election, this wasn't for nothing. i think. and i'm a cynical, pessimistic bastard.

[ewagner]

30. Another huge emotional moment

was when Kerry came on stage and greeted the Swiftboat crews and then came to the end of the line and enbraced the Green Beret whose life he saved. If my lip reading was working right the Green Beret said to Kerry something like "It's you time" or maybe "anytime" but the loyalty and respect for Kerry was obvious.....

very touching moment......

[info being]

31. I cried every day.

I sobbed after Kerry's speech last night. I've been waiting 3 long, dark years for this.

[senseandsensibility]

34. Don't be embarrassed

Bandit. At the end of Kerry's speech, I had a pile of Kleenex a foot high next to me on the coach. I was a sniveling, whimpering wreck from the time Max Cleland came onto the stage. And I don't know how the Kerry girls got through their speeches without crying. I don't think I could have.

[Sparkly]

37. Lots of tears here

from my husband and me, both.

[sundog]

38. Yeah, it was an emotional event... I welled up a lot...

all these voices & messages we've been waiting to hear all these years...

It meant a lot... the last few days will stick with me.

[Tight_rope]

39. I thought I was the only one crying everyday of the convention!

I am so proud of Democratics. I'm so proud at how we have come together to join as "ONE". And I'm really happy to see republicans fight amongst themselves.

[jdonaldball]

40. Tears are not wisdom; read "Citizens" by Simon Schama

Sorry, yes I do respect anyone who weeps for a good reason (Carter's speech made me mist up), but just a reminder here that emotions are not the foundation of wise or effective politics.
And Hitler moved millions of people to tears when he spoke. Demagogues can move people to tears as easily as true heroes can.
Just a reminder and a warning for the future. Tears are alright but they should be treated with skepticism in all politics.
On edit: Go and read "Citizens" by Simon Schama, about the French Revolution and how it degenerated from righteous emotionalism into violence. The cult of "sensibility", the idea that weeping and being righteously emotional was a sign of political nobility, was very fashionable in France in the 1780s, and much of the rational idealism of the French Revolution became corrupted by the cult of emotion and led to hysteria and violence.
Yes it can happen here and there is more than one way (left or right wing doesnt' matter) for any country to slide into further unreason or worse. Wise and noble politics can quickly become corrupted by too much reliance on visceral emotions.

[DemoTex]

41. I cried too, Bandit. We ain't "girlie-men" either.

Vietnam - Republic of - proved that. Stand tall, be proud, and feel free to weep. It is indeed called for by the current situation.

Mac

[Feanorcurufinwe]

46. Nah, me too.

But I cry a lot.


However, I don't think that makes me a 'girlie-man' either - I'm just 'weepy and liberal', lol.

[samplegirl]

48. Obama Speech

If his speech didnt make you cry.........your just plain not American!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mandyky]

49. I'm an empath and I cried during parts of almost

every speech, especially the Prime time ones. I also stood for each presenting of the Flag, Pledge, and National Anthem.

I am sending CSpan a thank you note for their coverage of the convention!

[FizzFuzz]

50. I was all choked up too.

I had a real feeling of hope; the phrase "help is on the way" really opened the floodgates and made me realize how bulldozed and helpless I've been feeling over these last years. I noticed too, the expressions on people's faces--did anyone else notice that intense look? That this isn't just some rooting for one's team, but a real crossroad leading to chaos and destruction for us all, or to a reaffirmation of what we all cherish about what America is supposed to be.

On a different topic, just for a moment now, and I hope this won't hit a sour note---I sure wish people would appreciate that phrases like "girlie-man" are a put down to women. What is so negative about the female side of human nature? Why do men cringe as if from a red hot flame from the feminine? How can one truley see women as just people who have the same rights and humanity as men, when references to feminity are construed as the worst possible thing you can say to a man? Why would a man think that his wife, on seeing "feminine" emotion in her husband, would be disgusted? Would a man be disgusted at seeing some so-called "masculine" trait, such as problem-solving or logic, in his wife? Is there something inherently awful about "female"ness, that must be avoided?

I mean, I've said it a million times and probably made some enemies for refusing to shut up about this, but if only people would start seriously trying to catch themselves when they follow old habits of seeing "feminine" characteristics as contemptable. If only more women would say, "hey! stop talking like what women do is bad!"

Forgive me for going off the thread subject a bit, but directing attention to how its so "normal" to put down women is what I do.

[QERTY]

51. I Was Repeatedly Choked Up By Some Lame Hackneyed...

...blather! I couldn't figure out why. I think it's because I've felt like an unwanted alien in my homeland. Also, this lying cabal in total power has been attacking many of my ideals for quite some time. It probably has to do with the pent-up hatred which I've been horboring for so long. I cried because I've been needing to scream for years!

[Toots]

55. Blubbered like a baby here

I saw real hope and it was overwhelming. I've even blubbered a bit reading some of the posts about it. Happiness is a wonderful thing.