In our lifetime

I am glad so many people voted today no matter who it was for, it is what makes our country great. I am glad we had two candidates that I believe to be good men who want to do their best.

I heard Barack Obama speak four years ago at the Democratic Convention and knew he was going places. His message of unity is one that struck home to me. I have written about my dissatisfaction with politics and partisanship. His message led me to read his books and follow his career. Despite that I didn't think he had much of a chance to win the presidency. The Clinton machine was loaded and nasty and knew that Hillary wouldn't give up without a fight. Yet he was able to win, mainly because of his grass roots organization and message of hope.

I have always liked John McCain. Eight years ago I rallied around him and wanted him to beat Bush. {At times I wonder how different the war would have gone had he won.} Nevertheless I admire McCain and was happy that we had two candidates that I liked. (last election there was zero). In fact I couldn't have been prouder than when I heard his gracious concession speech. I hope all who supported McCain take his words to heart and rally around and support our president-elect. You may not agree with all Obama's politics(then again I don't completely agree with anyone)but the politics of division is what is killing this nation. I appreciate McCain's sentiments, he didn't have to say what he did, but he did anyhow showing his character as well as need that all of us have of coming together.

Obama showed why he is a great leader. He was gracious as well and made sure that everyone knew of his admiration for McCain. He reached out to those who did not vote for him and asked for support as well as promised to listen. I know some may doubt that moment, if so you don't know Obama. After becoming the first black president of the Harvard Law Review and of course being liberal many expected him to reward the other liberals on staff by pushing their agendas. He did not. He was fair and listened to both conservatives and liberals, and as one conservative on staff stated he took far more grief from his own than from conservatives.

Yet somehow this night is more than just politics. Only the ungracious would not be able to recognize the significance of this night. Forget politics for a minute. The very fact that a person of African descent could not only be viable but actually win speaks volumes of how far we have come. For here this country showed progress in the very fact that one who would have been disenfranchised years before now has reached the highest office in the land. Only in America would this be possible. I was moved when I saw the diverse crowd in Chicago with people of all nationalities, ages, and of course gender come together to cheer on the president elect. It is the America I believe in. I hope Obama can be the leader to bring us together.

I will close by letting our president elect finish this post:
"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 our 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."