A New Dawn

I watched the sunrise this morning. It was another early day taking my husband to the airport. You can't watch a beautiful sunrise without feeling hope, optimism, and a sense of peace. It was a fitting morning to usher in a new day in American politics.

When I returned home, I watched Obama's victory speech online. It was eloquent, stirring, beautiful, and gracious. His words and delivery were all that we've come to expect from this man. But let us not forget that he is just a man.... A single solitary man that cannot change our nation by himself. His victory was the result of millions working together for a common cause. I hope that all of us that fought to elect Obama will continue to work even harder to bring about the change we really need in this country. It's not over folks, it's merely the chance to begin working for the change we want.

I can't say it any better than Barack did himself last night. Here is the excerpt that spoke to me loudly, and the part of his speech that isn't getting any media attention this morning.

"The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America - I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you - we as a people will get there.

There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won't agree with every decision or policy I make as President, and we know that government can't solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And above all, I will ask you join in the work of remaking this nation the only way it's been done in America for two-hundred and twenty-one years - block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.

What began twenty-one months ago in the depths of winter must not end on this autumn night. This victory alone is not the change we seek - it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you.

So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anything, it's that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers - in this country, we rise or fall as one nation; as one people.

Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long. Let us remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House - a party founded on the values of self-reliance, individual liberty, and national unity. Those are values we all share, and while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress. As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, "We are not enemies, but friends...though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection." And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn - I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your President too. "