America's New President and the Mountain We've Climbed

It's beginning to sink in -- Barack Obama is the President-elect. The electoral votes tell me the facts. Still, I am slowly absorbing the reality that this is a new day for our country.

During these last few days of the campaign, I had been afraid to let myself imagine this night for fear of jinxing the results. Now I want to hug whoever is standing next to me, call up old friends and throw out a huge shout to the world, "This is America."

As I watched President-elect Obama give his acceptance speech in Grant Park in Chicago, I saw people wiping away tears, and then, I felt my own eyes well up with tears of disbelief, tears of happiness and gratitude that I had the opportunity to witness this moment.

As I try to comprehend the dimensions of this extraordinary achievement, I ask myself, "What would Abraham Lincoln think?" He might conclude that our country has been touched "by the better angels of our nature," the concluding words of his first inaugural address when he struggled to hold the fragile union together which stood on the brink of war.

While Lincoln could not have imagined this night, I am certain he would approve of what the American people have achieved by electing a black President. It is, in a sense, the culmination of Lincoln's quest -- a more perfect union.

The Civil War wrenched us apart; Barack Obama's election has brought us together. The healing process has been long and violent. Even Obama's election, miraculous as it is, has not brought it to an end.

But we have climbed a mountain and reached the other side.

The country will never be the same. Obama has succeeded in bringing out our better nature, in appealing to our better selves. In his acceptance speech tonight, he asked us to sacrifice, he asked us to reach across the divides that separate us.

He said, if anyone doubted that anything was possible in America, they received their answer tonight. Yes, we can!

Just a year ago, few Americans believed that this young Senator from Chicago, with a white mother and an African father could be elected President of the United States. He is, as Colin Powell said, a transformative figure. He embodies within himself, black and white America. He has not only transformed himself into a powerful leader, he has transformed this country.

This was originally posted at Chelsea Green.

Madeleine M. Kunin is the former Governor of Vermont and was the state's first woman governor. She served as Ambassador to Switzerland for President Clinton, and was on the three-person panel that chose Al Gore to be Clinton's VP. She is the author of Pearls, Politics, and Power: How Women Can Win and Lead from Chelsea Green Publishing.

Read more reaction from HuffPost bloggers to Barack Obama's victory in the 2008 presidential election

Comments

[blaqntelligence]

Observation:
Does anyone appreciate the irony of our first Black president: African father, white mother from Kansas?
Not a Black American father but an African father.
Not just a White mother, but a mother from the heartland of America.

For me, President-elect Obama symbolizes a healing for America.
The destinies of Africa and America are intertwined again.
This time, instead of slavery we have President-elect Barack Hussein Obama.

[BarackMarley]

This is a tremendous day in American history. 143 years after slavery, 45 years after the March on washington. MLK may have not gotten there with us and we may have a long while to go but this will go down as one of the greatest moments in American history.

Is Obama's Victory MLK's Dream?
http://newsone.blackplanet.com/nation/is-obamas-victory-mlks-dream/

[kdallas999]

I AM PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!!! Ahhhh. I haven't been able to say that for so long! It is amazing to see what we can achieve when we work together! I, like many others have said, am ready to work hard for our country - not to dump it in the hands of politicians and sit back and criticize them but to actually get involved and make a difference!

As for Faith McGary's post -- don't worry Faith - you can go right now to Obama's website and enter your ideas in the "issues" section. I can tell you have alot of ideas, so don't waste them on "pre-worrying" about what might happen -- add them to the knowledge base and get your ideas heard!!

[NASAcrew]

Obama cares nothing about the 3rd party voters, he said nothing in his speech to include us. My guess by his lack of inclusion tells me that he will do everything to snuff us out, or find a way to filter our blogs, or concerns. He will do what they did at his convention, jail reporters who report the concerns of the other "WE THE PEOPLE". As a reminder Mr. Obama, we are also part of America, you can choose to exclude us, but we will continue to raise our voice, because this is America, and it is our right. You can try to hush us, jail us, pass laws that will not allow us to speak, but in the end, we will not stop. You can put us on your watch lists, make our life a living hell, but we are still "WE THE PEOPLE" and we still have the right to be heard. You are to represent us, hear from us, acknowledge us, and treat us with respect as Americans with a different point of view. You have so far, refused to extend the olive branch, you want change... but only with your people, not with the 3rd party voters that are still part of "WE THE PEOPLE". Thanks, but now I see, you are not willing to be my President.

Faith McGary,

Bethlehem, PA

[Terriac]

Obama's resounding victory shouts to the country, to the entire world, that America is hungry for a better world. His victory truly is our victory. This country has overcome huge obstacles to get to this point. In the end, the good that is in this country triumphed over all that is bad, all that represents failure and oppression. It is a great time to be an American!