A New First Family

I wish I was better with words, especially today as I try to write about how I felt last night as I watched the Presidential election, or more importantly, how I felt as I watched my daughter watch it. I'm going to try to write a little about this though, despite my limitations, because I want to record this historical event in American history, in my history. I want to write about my feelings of gratitude for this great democracy called the United States of America, a country I am very proud today, to call home.

I found myself in tears last night and more tears this morning as I watch the news and as I think about the amazing thing that has just taken place in America. I have been studying some American history lately and as I've studied I've felt a mixture of awe, shame, and heartache. We Americans have accomplished amazing things in our relatively short history as a country and there are many beautiful and unique aspects about us as a people and the way we are able to live our lives here, but much of what we have accomplished and become has come at a huge price. African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanics and others have paid that price heavily. Feelings of racism and hate have resulted and are still a part of our country, understandably so, but we are continuously moving in a positive direction. Last night's election proved that in a way that nothing else could.

Mary Kate asked the other day why this election was such a big deal, why everyone was watching and talking about it so much? I explained that much of it was because we are facing some difficult problems in America and people want those problems solved. I explained that people have passionately different opinions about how they want the problems solved, and who they feel would be the best at solving them. After a short lesson on two party politics, I asked her to think about the two candidates. I wanted to see if she was aware of the other reason why this election was so interesting and important to our country. I gave her plenty of time to think, but she couldn't come up with anything. Then I realized: how beautiful that my 9 year old daughter cannot see that one candidate's skin color makes a difference. To her there's nothing significant about it. I'm not sure she had even noticed it at all.

Of course I wanted her to understand that it is significant in so many ways and yet not in other ways, so we had a discussion about what it means in America that potentially we would have an African American family in the White House. We discussed some of the history of blacks in America and talked about racism, where we've been and how far we've come concerning it. Last night as we watched that beautiful family come out on the stage, seeing so many of the crowd in tears, I was thrilled that she was there watching. I hope she understands, even a little, what has happened and what it means for me, for her, and for millions of other Americans that this man has been elected.

I understand that there is much more to this election than the fact that our new president will be black, but I hope that no matter what our political ideas are, that we recognize the significance of what has happened. It says something about us as a people. I think it says something great.

I don't envy President Obama. He has a heavy load on his shoulders, high expectations to live up to, and difficult problems to solve. I hope he will do his job with grace and thoughtfulness. I know we won't all agree about every decision he makes, but, I hope we will keep in mind that he is only human, albeit, an exceptional one.

How President Obama will govern remains to be seen, but I for one am looking at America in a new light today and am feeling kind of warm and fuzzy inside. Considering the last 8 years (the last 200 and something for that matter), I'm enjoying the good feelings and loving the fact that my children will grow up in a country where a person can become whatever they want, no matter what the color of their skin. Thank you for this America!