I should be celebrating.

November 2nd was a momentous day for Latinos in Mountain View, and for my family in particular. My Auntie RoseMary has won a seat on the Mountain View-Whisman School Board. She may be the first Latina to ever win a seat. She's the first person in my family's history to win an election. She did it! It's amazing! I'm esctatic and thrilled to have played a roll in her early campaign.

In addition, Laura Macias has become the first Latina to ever win a seat on the Mountain View City Council. If not the first Latina, she is now one of only two Mexican-Americans to ever win. The last was Joe Perez, a close friend of my grandparents who served in the 1970s. She will be the lone women and minority on a council of all White males. Simply unacceptable for a city as diverse as Mountain View, but hopefully her election is a sign of better days to come.

My aunt and Laura united and worked together in their campaigns. It pulled off. It's a big day for Mountain View. I just got a call from my aunt a few minutes ago, and it took some of the bitterness out of what is otherwise, a terrible night.

I am absolutely terrified about the national political picture over the next four years. Pending a miracle, we will have Bush for a second term. And I can't even begin to articulate how frightened I am by that.

But my Aunt Rosemary winning gives me hope that change can happen. As she just told me, "I did it, and now ANY of us can do it."

I wrote these words for everyone who struggles in their youth
Who won't accept deception in instead of what is truth
It seems we lose the game
Before we even start to play
Who made these rules?
We're so confused
Easily led astray
Let me tell ya that...

Everything Is Everything
Everything Is Everything
After winter, must come spring
Everything Is Everything

Sometimes it seems
We'll touch that dream
But things come slow or not at all
And the ones on top, won't make it stop
So convinced that they might fall
Let's love ourselves and we can't fail
To make a better situation
Tomorrow, our seeds will grow
All we need is dedication

-Lauryn Hill