This Victory Belongs to You.

BOOM.WE DID IT! Yes, I realize that I am being less than careful by blanketing my audience with the use of the word "we." There is a possibility that one or two of you reading this voted for Mr. McCain. If you did, keep reading, this is not merely an exclusive party for preaching to the still-silly-drunk-off-a-wonderful-victory-choir.
But if you are the choir, feel free to keep singing, its truly unique seeing this country so lively and proud. Right? Stay up!

Anyway, yes, obviously this blog is not for breaking news. You know that Obama has won and will become our 44th President. It has just taken me a while to gather my thoughts regarding our victory and actually start to write.

I feel it's important it to reflect while its still fresh, I may be thankful for this perspective down the road. I think it is also worth it for everyone, but especially those abroad to document, observe and write about the world's continued reaction. Wasn't it so inspiring to watch the world just pop with excitement?

This guy in Kenya made a sweet hat out of Obama newspaper clippings. Nice work.

This is got to be a good sign. I am continually curious about the attitude of those around the globe. So to those abroad, I urge you to collect newspapers and document graffiti, write and record words from our friends everywhere from jungles of Ecuador to our misunderstood comrades in the Middle East. This moment is too huge not to observe and capture for future reflection. Remember, we are creating the primary documents.

It was pretty special for me, in retrospect, to have finally voted for a candidate for whom I believe in and for whom has won. That being said, I have only been able to vote twice now. (I was too young to vote against Bush in 2000 but old enough to have the desire). It was pretty special to have participated in this campaign, donating a few bucks here and there, calling voters during some volunteer events and in general learning more about Obama early enough to be ready to cast my vote for him in the primaries. (contests which seemed tougher that the general election eh?)

Anyway, here is the meat of this writing. This win has enormous potential to effect the world in positive ways. For so many reasons I think we will be able to start setting a good example for the world and actually start communicating with other nations. I have complete faith in Mr. Obama but I use the word "potential" in describing our positive effect on the world for purposes of instigation, instigation for the continuation of this grassroots movement. Right now we need to find a pride in our country that is not surface, purely celebratory and complacent, a pride that goes beyond Obama's potential. I say this in critique of myself and of many of my friends when we took on the attitude a few months a go; "if McCain wins I'm getting out of this country" or the general "We're fucked" attitude during the Bush administration.

We need to remember to push positive energy into our nation in our own specific ways, no matter who we voted for. We must remain active in our political process, writing to our senators about the issues we care deeply for and engage in dialog and debate. We need to work in every way we can to be citizen diplomats abroad and engaged activists and visionaries at home. In general we need continue to push our democracy to its true potential no matter who our president is.