oBAMa

And another one

It's raining. I've spent the day on the phone with sources, jotting down scribbles of information, gathering facts, listening and thinking and stressing out about all the things I have yet to do but have been sitting on my "to do" list for a week.

Obama was elected two days ago. For people my age, this is a chance to feel like your country is your friend. When I first started to show interest in politics, Bush was in office. I've learned almost everything I know about government and politics with Bush and his administration as my teacher. I've spent so much time looking elsewhere for answers about what a leader should look like. I've never known to be proud of my President until now. There are those who lived when the U.S. was a beacon of hope for the rest of the world and there are those, like me, who have never felt anything but embarrassed and ashamed of their own nationality.

Things can change and hope is alive and it will not be beaten down by those too scared to embrace it. There is only fear and love, and although it may take some time to pry ourselves away from the fear we've been taught to hold to in times of uncertainty, we will learn to love and we will be bold again.

Tuesday night was like New Year's Eve. Everyone stopped what they were doing to huddle around the television like the ball was dropping. I don't know if I'll ever forget that moment. He came on stage and he addressed millions of people and he united them all. And we all choked up a bit, realizing that our dream really had come true.