Yes We Can!

My faith in America has been restored. I have never been a bleeding-heart liberal. I have never even considered myself a democrat. I am a registered independent and consider myself capable of making a decision in an election regardless of political party. That having been said, I felt that America was in desparate need of change. Illegally imprisoning political prisoners, torturing captives in Guantanamo, spying on the citizens of America, an economic crisis, and two poorly-planned wars had me fed up. Never in my lifetime have the people of America been so pessimistic about the state of the country.

Enter Barack Obama. I first heard of Obama during the presidential election in 2004. Newsweek magazine reported that the unexpected highlight of the democratic convention was a speech by a young black political newcomer with a funny name. Newsweek listed him as someone to watch as a long-shot presidential candidate in 2008. My interest was piqued.

Over the next few years I paid attention every time I saw his name in print. I was impressed that there was never anything negative to report about him. Everyone that ever worked with him in any capacity had only glowing reports. Here was a man that transcended race: he has a Kenyan father and an American mother. Here was a man that transcended culture: he was born in Hawaii but spent his childhood in Indonesia and had a middle-eastern middle name. Here was a man that even transcended religion: his father was a Muslim-turned-atheist but Barack was raised by his Christian grandparents.

I became even more impressed with him as I watched him build the most successful grass-roots campaign in American history. He took on the Clinton machine and beat it. He gave the most eloquent, awe-inspiring speeches I have ever heard. He spoke of healing America, working together, and moving forward. He was accused of being too inexperienced but yet he out-planned, out-organized, and out-worked his "experienced" opponents. He faced endless attacks and smears, yet he consistently took the high road and refused to fight back.

On November 4, I wasn't sure that the American people would be able to see through the lies and the fear-mongering. Obama is a socialist! Barack is a Muslim! Barack Obama kills babies! Give me a break. People can see through these desparate lies, can't they? I wasn't so sure.

Yesterday my faith in this country was restored. For the first time in my life I felt a great sense of pride in my President. I can't describe how inspired I was by his acceptance speech. I loved his line about dispelling the myth of this generation's apathy. I was moved by his call for help from the American people. I was happy to hear him say that he will always listen to the American people, especially, he said, when we disagree.

I can't help but feel that something truly momentous happened yesterday. I had a professor today say that this election would likely be the greatest historic event in our lives. I feel that we showed the world that our brand of democracy works. I feel that we showed the world that America is still the land of opportunity. I feel that a new day has dawned on America. Never before in my lifetime have I been so optimistic about the prospects of our future.