Forgive the overly sentimental, off-topic diversion, but I couldn’t let this night go by without commenting on how proud this evening’s events have made me to be an American and renewed my faith in our political system and our people.
Both candidates showed the characteristics that we should always be lucky to see in our choices for President. Only time will tell if Obama will be a great President, but at least we have selected a leader who has the intelligence, eloquence, self-awareness, and temperament befitting a world leader. At the same time, his opponent accepted defeat graciously, with the leadership and class of a true American role model and hero. To see the genuine outpouring of emotion and elation from the tens of thousands who celebrated the outcome in Chicago, not just out of pride that their candidate had won, but because they knew that they were participating in something truly historic and transcendent, put a lump in my throat.
I believe that expressions of patriotism only have meaning if they are reserved for those moments that truly embody the positive spirit of a nation’s identity. This is one of those moments. God Bless America.
