A night I’ll tell my children and grandchildren about someday

As a social liberal, I’ve always been envious of my parent’s generation. They grew up during a time where young people believed in important causes like ending the war or women’s rights and they did something about it. They marched, they protested, they listened to Beatles’ music, they came together.

I, on the other hand, grew up in a generation that can be pretty much summed up by John Mayer’s song “Waiting on the World to Change.” Sure we see injustices in the world, but we haven’t done much to change them. Maybe that’s because we haven’t believed we could.

More than once this year, though, I have experienced moments that gave me insight into what it must have felt like to grow up in the 60s and 70s. I have been in awe of my generation and my sister’s generation as we came together, much like our parents did, to fight for change and to rock the vote! :)

But no moment was as powerful as Tuesday, Nov. 4, when we elected Barack Obama – the first African American president – by a landslide!

What’s most impressive to me is how he was elected. Sure, some people voted for him because of the color of his skin and some voted for him despite it. But many, many more people (myself included) voted for him because he was the best candidate, which had nothing to do with the color of his skin. And that – my friends – is real change.

Today I am full of hope. The enormity of this election means even more to me as I plan and pray to bring children into the world. I hope that their generation will be the first to truly see beyond race and gender and instead focus on what unites us.

Of course I realize that racism, sexism and all the other injustices will not end today. But this morning I have this renewed, overwhelming belief that YES WE CAN! Thank you Obama. Thank you America.