"... the butcher, the banker...

"... the drummer and then... makes no difference what group I'm in" Everyday People - Sly & the Family Stone (1968)

I live in a better place today. I'm proud of my country today.

Today, everyone who didn't stay up late the night before, heard that Barack Obama is our new president elect. An African American president. I gotta say, I'm impressed with this country today.

It's important for every American, and especially for the African American community. For them, it's gotta be overwhelming. Since I don't have African roots, I can't say I know exactly how they feel, but I do know how it feels to witness something you never thought you'd see. Mine was actually a someone, as it was when I met my dad for the first time in my early 20's. I truly believed that I would never, ever... freakin' never see the day when he'd be with me in the flesh... and when I actually did see him, it's was unbelievably overwhelming. It changed my life. It breathed hope... and optimism... and believability... and relief... and comfort... and excitement... and security, all at once. It was intense.

On TV last night, I heard a couple African Americans say they could finally tell their children they really could be President of our country one day. Not because the law says it's possible, but because we've proven as a country that it is possible. That's pretty sweet man... Like I said, I'm proud of my country today.

Obama's election to the presidency means most of us don't really care about ethnic background when deciding who should lead us. It symbolizes less judgement among us as a whole. It means we've progressed as a people... grown as a society.

Does all that mean we made the right choice?? Hmmm... not necessarily.

There's a ton of work to be done in this country, so we'll see what happens and pray for the best in the meantime. I'm not elated Obama won because of his political views per say, but because his election has a positive impact on our society's racial issues and that in itself was something we needed a jolt of. I hope to see us prosperous in other ways as well now...

Stay tuned...