If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer. ~ President-Elect Barack Obama
Thanks, Yanks! 
We had an Election Night party at my parent’s house last night. We feasted and watched CNN. And what a night it was!
(Sidenote: I find it so odd that Americans start revealing/broadcasting the results before all of the polls are closed. This is incredibly wrong in my opinion. You shouldn’t start the show until the last American has voted and then start to roll in the results. Just unfair.)
When Obama won Pennsylvania, Brian looked at me and said, “It’s going to be a landslide.” And it was. Suddenly, they were calling states for him like Ohio and then….oh, my….Virginia! We all cheered. It was a fun night with states being called and seeing the maps fill in. I will never – no, as long as I live - understand the American election system with their electoral colleges and whatnot – but I understood enough to know that 270 was the magic number.
And then the western polls closed and they called it.
President-elect Barack Obama!
I was so impressed with Senator McCain’s concession speech. He was incredibly gracious (even if some of his supporters were/are not…). That was the John McCain that I liked so immensely when I lived in the States. He was thoughtful, courageous, working to unite an ultimately a pragmatist.
I hope and pray that everyone that voted for him follows his leadership. He is a good man.
The energy and excitement that we saw was palpable – spontaneous crowds in Times Square, at the White House and then the enormous crowd in Grant Park. I looked at that crowd of people and I thought “That’s what heaven will look like – every colour, every age – everyone together.” That’s part of what appeals to me about Barack Obama – he is a true uniter. He pulled people into the process that had never had a voice before – young people, Latinos, African-Americans while still drawing traditional groups.
I love his family. I love Michelle Obama. What a First Lady she will make! Her intelligence and “equalness” blesses me. He seems to have such respect and love for her. They have an ease and familiarity, a chemistry to their relationship that is pretty obvious. They are real and I relate to them. They have a close-knit family that seems so healthy.
And good for Sasha and Malia on the puppy! How cute was that?
And then to listen to President-elect Barack Obama’s speech!
I appreciated that he didn’t “cowboy up” during this speech. He didn’t betray any excessive emotion, he didn’t gloat, he didn’t even smile that much. He looked – and was – every inch a statesman. He seemed so humbled by what had happened. It was nice to see that humility.
He was inspiring.
We were all hushed by this point, just listening. We saw the crowds celebrating. We weren’t even cheering anymore. I feel like in thirty years, we will be asked “Where were you when Barack Obama won?” I was sitting in a chair, nursing my little half-American son, ,y half-American daughter, sleeping through history, tears in my eyes. Thankful that they will grow up in a world where this is possible.
Then Brian said, “I am so proud to be an American tonight.”
It made me remember something. After 9-11, all of us in the world cried out “We are all Americans!” We were with the Americans. And then, the steady drip-drip-drip of arrogance, unilateral behaviour, war, Abu-Grahib and other policies among other things wore away that good will and tested even the strongest of international ties and the strongest of Bush-supporters. We all knew that they were better than this. They suddenly were content to just “talk the talk” without “walking the walk”. And then Katrina happened as well. Anger turned to sorrow at what had eroded.
In his speech, I saw the America that we all know and love. That hope and idealism. It was beautiful to see America “walking the talk” by electing someone that represents their best self, the best American dream. This multi-cultural, multi-racial, inclusive and generous democracy. It was inspiring.
A speech like that – and an election like this – does more to inspire democracy in the hearts of the oppressed and in the nations of the world than a thousand “pre-emptive wars”. Democracy done well – like this – is inspiring to us all.
We all love America and believe her best stories that she has told us. We stand with her when she is true to herself like this.
We are all Americans.
Americans should be so proud of themselves.
They have elected a man that is intelligent and insightful. A thoughtful man. Someone that inspires hope in millions. Someone that unites people. He is a Christian. He is a family man. He is the embodiment of the American dream. His wife embodies a typical African-American story.
And now he inherits a great, big mess. LOL I hope he runs a country as well as he ran his campaign.
There are two things that I see here:
1. The historical significance of an African-American being elected. Others have written so much better and more eloquently than I could ever do on this topic. But I feel it in my heart.
2. It represents that the majority of Americans do want to live by the Golden Rule - do unto others what you would have them do unto you. No more selfishness masquerading as capitalism. No more naked greed disguised as prosperity. The majority of its citizenry has embraced a godly way, a way that says that we are each our brother’s keeper. And that what happens to the least of these matters to me. There is something so like the Kingdom of God in this to me.
It seems that Americans want to live more generously as citizens of the global community and their individual local communities. And that is a beautiful thing.
And so Obama’s victory in part reflects Americans’ deep, if not fully conscious, desire to create a more ethical society, one in which individualism thrives but is not set against conscience, in which capitalism drives the economy but is not allowed complete license, in which patriotism means more than flag waving. A real society. In the words scrawled on a piece of parchment 236 years ago, and which Obama referred to in his speech, “a more perfect union.” (Salon.com)
Here is his speech in full. It was – without a doubt – the best speech I’ve ever heard with my own ears. I had goosebumps and tears in my eyes during this speech.
To those — to those who would tear the world down: We will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security: We support you. And to all those who have wondered if America’s beacon still burns as bright: Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope.
