Congratulations to Barack Obama!

Welcome America's 44th and First Black President, Barack Obama!

"Rosa sat so that Martin could walk

so that Obama could run

so that our children could fly..".

Anonymous

I am so excited and proud that Barack Hussein Obama is America's 44th and first black president.

Obama won even in states like Indiana that were not supposed to vote for him at all. Americans are tired and can see that Bush was a evil, lying failure. Obama was not my personal "first" choice, but I know he's not evil, he's sane, he's a kind man and sensible. My dad has met him and says he's super, super friendly. His family is youthful, he's classy, intelligent, ambitious, rational, attractive, young, and a minority. I have always felt that one of the saddest parts of American culture is the institutionalized racism that so many are in denial of. This is a huge step forward for America, and for the first time in years and years I feel I no longer have to hang my head in shame over my country's behavior and attitude.

As a rule, I generally don't know how I feel about American politics, overall. I do feel - I wish I didn't - that a lot of it is rigged, I do feel that the government is so corrupt that just to be on the stand and to be eligible for president, you have to accept so many corporate buy-offs and be a part of so much corruption that it's scary and negates anything they supposedly "stand for", usually. I believe the government is behind a lot of the hard drug trafficking and other dirty, ugly aspects of our society that it prosecutes people for participating in; stuff like this has been documented, and it's pretty dark stuff . . . . .

But today, as an exception, I am choosing to simply be grateful and to celebrate the fact that George Bush is gone (why do I want to run out and sing "Ding Dong, The Witch Is Dead"?), to rejoice that we have our first black president, and to be happy for all of the Americans who, like me, have waited with me for this long overdue day to come. Obama is a decent-enough person, and his politics are way more likeable by a landslide. Furthermore, he is the son of an immigrant and he is accepting of and is familiar with the Muslim religion. He is not a religious fundamentalist and isn't a fear-monger. He is open-minded, has young kids whom he wants to create a safe world for, and is tolerant and peaceable.This is a HISTORIC presidency!

I have always felt partial to racial issues and sensitive to minorities and injustice. It's the activist streak in me. I have read countless slave narratives, have all of the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.'s, lectures and sermons on audio recording, and I've studying lynching and African American history. And while I think everybody is equal, I am especially proud for the African Americans today. it's been a loooong haul.

JoJo, our Thai office girl, just ran into my room and says her friend just called, and shouted "OBAMA WON!", excitedly. It just chokes me up. EVERYBODY, ACROSS THE WORLD, HAS BEEN WAITING FOR THIS DAY. No more war, no more Bush, no more evil. Congratulations to Obama, his family, and to the American people! People are rejoicing all over the world.

I have to go, he's on TV now. In Chicago, my hometown. Holding his daughter's hand and whispering in her ear, on stage. Hell yeah! I'm so proud. And, I admit, a little emotional. Just to even see supposed or former "republicans", plus whites of all ages, classes and backgrounds, from liberal to conservative, blacks, latinos and so many more ALL celebrating change, ALL stating they are tired of our current America, and ALL thrilled about our new president, a black man, is overwhelming. Blue-collar workers, scholars, the elderly, punk rockers . . . everybody is united.

Bob from Philly, who left the country last time Bush faked his presidency (or when the Iraq war started) and hasn't lived there since, just came in and high-fived me. I think that, in general, Americans just redeemed themselves in a lot of the worlds eyes. Voting Obama into office is somewhat of a peace-offering to all the other nations in my eyes, and I think the world is all on one page right now. It feels so powerful. And positive! Power to the people.

The above is of Obama in Kenya, where he's considered a hero.

He is half-Kenyan. Such a beautiful picture!

Congratulations, America! The world already feels like a better place, no?

I am going out to dinner to celebrate with my new friend Ryan from California. He just got here this week. We'll see if I can get Bob to go, too. We'll celebrate over Som Tam, of course. Which means I've been "celebrating" about twice a day for quite some time now (LOL!) GOOD TIMES, GOOD TIMES!