Change I Can Barely Believe

Yesterday was one of the most amazing and memorable days of my life! I felt like I was in a dream, watching an idealized version of what I’ve always wanted America to be, coming true before my eyes. And I could barely believe it was happening even as I watched it unfold, because even though I had an ideal of America in my mind, I never dared to believe that it could really come true. I know Obama’s election won’t solve most of the problems in America, and I know the shine of his victory will soon wear off as he has to buckle down to face the enormous problems our country now faces. And in terms of policy, I doubt McCain as president would have been that different, in the end. But to me, Obama and his path to the White House, embodies everything that is great about America. And even though it is so difficult for a president to make any real change in America, Obama, in his very being and in his very campaign has already permanently changed America for the better. It really feels like the dawn of a new era for America, and it feels like an era that I want to be a part of!

Watching the elections from The Gambia was a unique way to see history happen. Being in The Gambia has made me realize just how important this election is not just for America, but for the world, and how Obama's message of hope and possibility is a message that is inspiring people everywhere. Obama's election has already changed the world by permanently changing what is possible in the world. I can't help but feel pride when I tell young Gambian children that the president of my country is a half-African man who reached the most powerful position in the world through his own hard work, talent, perseverance and optimism, and that he was chosen by the American people to lead because he was judged the most worthy candidate. I can't help but feel joy at the thought that those children's view of what they are capable of achieving in life has been permanently widened. I can't help but feel more hopeful for the future.