Where were you?

This was a moment like few others. In so few moments in our lives, do we remember the places we were when we heard the news. So many times it’s tragic news that tattoos our memories forever. Americans seem to all remember where they were when they heard of John F. Kennedy’s assassination, when the Challenger space shuttle exploded, and where they were on that horrific Tuesday morning in the autumn of 2001. For once, Americans can now happily remember the exact time and place when they heard that America had elected it’s first black President.

In our country’s history there has never been a moment quite like this. Not since the end of World War II has the country seemed this united in celebration. Anyone watching on TV or standing in Times Square in New York, in Grant Park in Chicago, or in Little Havana in Miami or even a world away in Kenya felt the electricity in the air. Those who said that Latin-Americans would never vote for an African-American candidate saw just how wrong they were. Those who said Americans would tell pollsters one thing only to change their vote in the booth found that racist assumption appropriately obselete. Whether you are white, black, hispanic, asian or whatever, you can take pride in knowing that our country has symbolically taken an enormous leap forward out of our divided past.

So take a moment and relish this slice of history. With any luck, there will be many more moments like this. Remember where you were and how you felt when you realized that for just one moment, this country was united. We had finally lived up to the high expectations so many have had of us for the relatively short history of this country. The beacon of hope indeed shines bright on the rest of the world. Now we can only hope we can continue to shine as darker times approach. But all that can wait, for now the celebration is ours, and as is said so often these days we are truly the United States of America.