Hope

It seems as though it's been a long time. A long time since we've had a voter turnout like yesterday. A long time since I've heard enthusiasm and cheer about an election. And, although I always vote, a long time since I've felt it.

Columnist Kathleen Parker wrote:
(read the full column here.)

But it helps on a day like today, when half the nation is angry and disappointed, that we are still the luckiest people on Earth. And this is still the greatest nation ever conceived by man.

Not by accident do these happy tidings endure.

We arrived at this historic moment through the sacrifices (and blood) of those who preceded us. Barack Obama’s ascendancy is testament to the audacity of the American dream — as well as to the enormous sufferings of men such as John McCain.

Though our political philosophies differ – and our dreams may be postponed – we have reason to be boastful today. Two men of extraordinary talents clashed not in the battlefield of strap-on bombs, but in the civilized arena of ideas.

We will survive this shifting of the guard. No one will draw a weapon on the Truman Balcony. No one will be kidnapped or beheaded as we slog through the difficult days ahead of necessary restraint. The rest of the world will continue to judge us at times harshly, while granting begrudging respect mingled with envy.

Perspective.

I think what she has to say is quite profound, and something for all of us to think about and remember. She has more to say, and I recommend reading the whole article. But what I wanted to comment on, what struck me, is the idea that our system works - we can have a major shift in ideas, a shift in power, and we can do it in a civilized manner, listening to the voice of the populace. That is an ideal worth recognizing and yes, worth fighting for.

The other thing that struck me was the enthusiasm of our sons - the hope in their voices as they talked of Obama. You know, right now, things are scary for all of us, but maybe even more so for our young adults. They wonder how they will make it, if they can stay in college, if there will be jobs for them, whether they will be able to buy a house, a car, start a family, live to their own ideals. They are just starting out, at a time when the future is bleak. Our older son has been pretty discouraged about the state of our world, and yesterday, when I heard the hope in his voice I was happy. Something that he did not think would or could happen did. It gives him hope.

And that leads me to my last thought. I recently commented that words move me - the quotations I read on the memorials in DC brought me near tears. Last night, listening to our eloquent President-elect, I was in tears again. His words were powerful, inspiring and brought hope. You could see it in the faces of the audience, and I could feel it in my heart. This morning, one of my running buddies said that Obama was just a politician, and that he was doing what politicians do - basically, feeding us a line. But you know what? It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter, because if Obama can inspire the American people, if he can give them hope, then I believe the American people will step up, pitch in, get to work and then we will see change. We need a leader who inspires. I think we've got one. I have hope.