A New Dawn of American Leadership is at Hand

My street erupted with shouts and car after car passed with horns blaring. Two of my neighbors were running up and down the street with their children in their arms.

“Obama won! Yes we can! Obama is OUR president!” they shouted.

I couldn’t breathe, yet I as crying. I have never had or seen such a reaction in my life. We did it. Not only did America elect the first black president, but we elected the best choice by a landslide.

“America tonight has lived up to its promises,” said Daily Show host John Stewart.

When I heard the "Sen. Barack Obama is the next president of the United States," I felt like the air had been knocked out of me and I was a little bit dizzy.

During the last week I kept telling myself, “Wait ’til this is all over and you will feel silly.” And I do. I feel silly because I actually believed McCain might be right when he said election night would be a late one. I had thought, “Maybe he is the Comeback Kid,” and maybe I will be disappointed for the third election of my voting life.

But today my friends, I am happy to announce my fears were for naught. America has pulled together and is moving forward. America has spoken and we said “349-Obama, 162-McCain!”

As I watched Sen. John McCain give his concession speech, I saw the McCain of 2000. It was the man I might have voted for if he had won the nomination eight years ago. Back then I felt he was honest and I liked what he said. However, the McCain I had come to know in 2000 is vastly different from the one who chose Gov. Sarah Palin as a running mate.

His concession speech was graceful and uplifting. He spoke of his love for this country and praised Obama for inspiring hope in so many Americans. “I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our goodwill and earnest effort to find ways to come together,” he told his supporters.

What impressed me most about McCain’s speech was his sober calmness and acceptance. He was sincere, gracious and the most honest he has been in since he started this campaign.

President-elect Obama’s acceptance speech was icing on the victory cake. He spoke of a united America, one that works together to achieve greatness, “block-by-block, brick-by-brick, calloused hand-by-calloused hand.”

“This is your victory,” he said.

A friend had told me once while watching Obama’s speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention that someday Obama will be president. I remember telling him it would be great but do you really think that's possible. All he said was “Watch.”

This same friend now lives in Chicago and was at Grant Park for the massive 125,000 people gathering to celebrate the historic outcome and to hear Obama.

He said being there felt like nothing he’d experience before. There was an overwhelming feeling of joy and hope.

Watching the reactions across the country, I could see the joy and hope he was talking about in everyone’s faces. I could hear it in the shouts coming from the streets and I could feel it in my heart.

Barack Obama is the next president of the United States of America. He is my president.

Election 2008 Comes to an End

Tomorrow is the day many has dubbed as the most important election of our lives. In one day it will be all over, the arguments with who to vote for and what propositions should pass or fail will all be over. But how many of us will be happy?

The first time I voted for a president was in the fall of 2000. I remember being extremely excited and a little nervous when I walked into the polling place at the elementary school. I had been waiting to vote since I was 10 years old. I remember laying on my grandmother's floor watching the 1992 election coverage, mad about not being old enough to vote. All I could concentrate on were the percentages. I chanted, "Come on Clinton," in my head over and over again.

I don't remember why I wanted Clinton to win exactly, but I do remember a couple of years later when my mom took us all out to a nice dinner with her tax return we all credited it to the president.

I walked into the polling place alone, armed with knowledge of every thing on the ballot. I am old enough to vote, I am old enough to make a choice and I am old enough to make a difference, I told myself.

Later that night I sat with my mouth wide open staring at the T.V.

WHAT!? Bush won, no Gore won! No Bush. NO!

We all know what happened in the following weeks and I didn't think I could have been more disappointed -- then there was 2004.

Tomorrow I hope the person I vote for will win, not because I voted for him, but because Barack Obama is the best hope this country has.

I cannot imagine the direction this country will be taken in if John McCain wins. We have watched him change his persona for this election. We are witnesses to his terrible choice of a running mate, Sarah Palin. I cannot imagine what it would be like with an elected VP who does not understand what her job is.

Every time I hear someone say Palin out trumps Obama in executive experience I laugh. "She's in charge of thousands of employees, and all Obama has done is organize a community," McCain supporters shout.

Obama went out into communities and made a difference. He organized a better way of life for people who need help. How can that be scoffed at?

Obama says he is running for president not for himself but for us, the people. I believe him. I believe him when he says we can change the way we do things. We can make education and health care priorities.

He talks of ensuring education to all Americans who truly step up and serve this country. I believe him.

The polls have favored Obama and it seem almost impossible for him to lose. Yet I cannot help feeling that creeping fear that soon I will carry three election scars not two. It's hard to relax when there is so much at stake and so much that can go wrong.

The outcome of Proposition 8 is another election fear harbored deep inside me. California must not pass an unconstitutional law into our state constitution.

However, being a victim in the 2000 election has not stopped me from believing in this country. Every voting day I take my election scars and head for the polls because that is the day I have my say.