where were you?

where were you when you heard that barack obama became the first african american president of the united states? it's one of those moments that people remember. i was here in my apartment, with ben & dane, watching cnn. there's not much to be said because, frankly, it's already been said. but for the first time in a while i am hopeful for not just the united states, but us as a people. after spending a great deal of time abroad in the last 16 months, i've come to understand what it's like to be on the outside looking in. and it wasn't pretty. i am hopeful that this selection of barack obama not only strengthens us as a people internally, but also that it sends a signal to the rest of the world that we have moved beyond the selfish mindset that many have associated with this country for the last decade. no longer, i hope, will the assumption be that we are only concerned with pushing our agenda, our interests, our culture, but that we are truly open to discussion. open to talking with those we don't agree with (after all, isn't this what we were taught in grade school? you can't just ignore your enemies, you have to treat each person with dignity and respect). i'm hopeful. i'm excited. i'm energized. i realize the significance of this election. this decision. but seeing how it truly affected people, especially people who have been fighting for this their entire lives, never thinking it would happen, that has shown me the power and momentous meaning of this moment in our history.