An American Milestone

When I woke up this morning several questions ran through my mind.  Was last night all a dream?  Has America really come this far in my lifetime?   Can this country be brought back together by one man?  I took just a moment to ponder these questions and came to the understanding that this will all take time.  There are no answers right here, right now.  But what we do have right here and right now is a monumental American milestone.  An African-American man has been elected to the highest office in our country.  And not just any African-American man, but a man who has brought people to the polls with a message of hope and unity.  And not just any people, but people who have never felt that their vote could count or that their voice was worth hearing.  And these people did not necessarily vote for the winning candidate, but they voted.  This is very powerful.  In a time of insecurity and fear of the unknown, Americans embraced one of the most important gifts our forefathers bestowed on us, the gift of choice.  And whether or not you chose to cast your vote for President-Elect Obama, everyone should feel the magnitude of the country’s decision.  Americans decided to vote, they decided to wait in long lines, and they decided to believe in a system that is not always easy to believe in.  It is amazing to think that just 21 months ago many Americans said that this country was not ready to have an African-American President or a female President.  And today… we are seeing the impossible happen.   What a wonderful country we woke up in today. 

Will the road that lies before us be hard – yes.  Will we stumble and sometimes get off course - that’s part of life.  But do I see hope in people who have not had hope in the past? – incredibly, I do.  Do I see the ability in Americans to work together and make this a better nation? – I do.  I am honored to have lived during this historic election.  I am honored to have had the right to participate in this historic moment.  I am honored to be an American citizen.