Election Day 08:

Today I am proud of my country and am proud to be an American.  We elected a president who hopefully has the willpower to pull us from this global slump.

For the last few years traveling the world, I (and other Americans), were constantly being looked down on for the policies of the Republican Administration, and their seeming disregard for everything outside of our borders. Nonchalantly invading countries and throwing our global weight around. I could never be ashamed of being American, but there were definitely moments when the choices of our country embarrassed us in front of the rest of the world, who was just looking for leadership.

Where as I can’t agree with absolutely everything offered by Obama and the Democrats, I do forsee them making some changes that will reverse the pattern of degradation that has, at least in my eyes, become the standard of the Bush policies.

We as Americans have given Obama, the Democrats and Hope a chance.  Here’s to the chance that Hope can actually follow through.

• “To those — to those who would tear the world down: We will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security: We support you. And to all those who have wondered if America’s beacon still burns as bright: Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope.” -Barack Obama (His entire victory speech is here)

• “Americans never quit. We never surrender. We never hide from history. We make history.”    -John McCain  (his entire speech conceding the election is here)