AMERICA'S DAY

I called my Dad shortly after the major news networks declared the presidential race for Barack Obama and I could almost hear him shaking his head over the phone in that certain way that he has.

"Son," he said, "I NEVER thought I'd see this."

"Me neither Dad. I'm totally shocked but so happy."

I wonder how many African-American fathers and sons, mothers and daughters had a conversation that started off something like that. I tend to be jaded and cynical and snarky but when President-elect Barack Obama started giving his speech to the throng of 75,000+ in Grant Park, I couldn't help but tear up. Then he reiterated themes of how we are all part of the United States of America, how there are no "red states" and "blue states" and how he talked about how he might make "false starts" (don't let the Republicant's hear that Barack!) but how he would always listen to the people and together we would dig ourselves out of the crises we find ourselves and after he said all that I was in tears again. This is a candidate who GETS IT! He articulates the things that I and many of my friends believe and he says them BECAUSE HE BELIEVES THEM, not because some lobbyist, focus group or poll told him he should say it. Amazing!

Can he/we do it? To be honest, I have my doubts. But I like our chances as a country a lot better with Obama then I would with McCain. So does the rest of the world--and despite what some on the Right think, the opinion and esteem of the rest of the world does matter. We are all interconnected and interdependent. We have to start acting like we realize this.

Election Day in America is always one of the world's great spectacles and traditions, no matter who wins. But November 4th, 2008 will perhaps be remembered as the greatest Election Day of them all, the day that forever changed what was thought to be possible in this country and one that brought optimism and hope to an entire nation on what many believe to be the dawn of one of it's darkest days. Whatever becomes of the Obama administration, whether he succeeds majestically, fails miserably or (most likely) settles somewhere in the middle, this is a day that will live forever in history and be talked about for generations.

And I was alive to see it. And somehow, I still can't quite believe it.

Peace...