Last night history was made. As a columnist in the Washington Post said yesterday, the policies, hopes, and dreams of Lyndon Johnson and Martin Luther King, Jr. have been realized in a way many thought would never happen. Some are cheering in the streets, and some refuse to cheer, despite this historical marvel that has happened in what truly is one of the most remarkable nations in history--I can say that after living and travelling around in China and Tibet for the past two years.
There is much to be curious about--will Barack Obama be able to deliver on his promises? He has a good chance with the Congressional results. Will Obama bring about the end of the world? I doubt it. Health care, education reform, energy reform, and a foreign policy that actually makes sense (as opposed to the absolute insanity of the last eight years)? I think there is a real chance.
I'm happy and hopefull about the direction America seems to be heading. Nationalized health care is not as bad as many would have you believe--just because something in the UK doesn't work as well as it was intended is no reason to decry to benefit to the majority of Americans. Most of us who have any experience with another country aren't even in the bracket of people that would be affected by a national health care system. But for those who are stuck, for those who simplly can't afford it, this is the way to go. I've watched Tibetan nomads' and destitute Chinese farmers'lives be saved because of national health care. I've watched families go into spiraling debt because they couldn't afford private, open market health care in America.
If Obama only does one thing, this one thing would be amazing. If he delivers on even half of promises, that will be something to show the world that the American experiment is far from dead, far from irrelevant.
Indeed, as Barack Obama said last night, we are only at the beginning of a great challenge in American life. And just as he spoke of Franklin Roosevelt and the New Deal, just as he spoke of putting a man on the moon and surviving the Cold War, America can.
Yes, we can.
Today, for the first time in over a decade, I am proud to be an American.
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