Congratulations to my American friends. This is your time to celebrate and you've earned it. I was incredibly inspired by your country last night. Thank you!
By all accounts, last night was full of celebration south of the border. One of my friends in Seattle said it was "like the Super Bowl on Capitol Hill" after the TV networks declared Obama as the winner. (You know, if the Seahawks were to actually win the Super Bowl.)
I first moved to the United States in the summer of 2005 and the landscape looked pretty grim: the Bush Republicans had recently received a fresh and powerful mandate, it was becoming clear that the wars were going to be protracted engagements, and it seemed that America had perhaps lost its way indefinitely. In the words of W himself after the 2004 election: "I earned capital in the campaign, political capital, and now I intend to spend it." It was a scary proposition and a slightly sour welcoming.
As I'm wrapping up my work at grad school and getting things in order to move back to Seattle in the new year, I'll be going back to the United States with a sense of respect and admiration. Again, congratulations and thank you!
