If I had children today

I just watched Obama take his daughters to the voting booth and I thought about how significant this day is for them. Their dad’s name is on the ballot; how cool is that?! Yet, they will never know exactly how monumental today is to the rest of the world.

I don’t have children to share the importance of what today means but if I had daughters right now I would tell them this:

Today is a once in a lifetime day for me, but I hope the beginning of many “once and a lifetime” events for you and future generations. Today we elect a president who’s a mediator. A mediator is someone who brings parties together, not to compromise, but to collaborate; a mediator gives hope to parties who believe a solution is impossible; and a mediator reminds us that we can respectfully disagree and still work together. Today we elect a strong, intelligent and peaceful, young man who strongly believes in our nation’s constitution and rule of law. Today we elect a leader who believes in transparency, tolerance, and hope, three elements crucial to being a leader and a fair human being. Today, in choosing this “first family,” we show the world our diversity, respect, and admiration for all humanity that our country has finally evolved to.

Today we put a great deal of faith in a man who has reminded us that we, as individuals, must participate in our own success. And we do this because he has promised to lead in a manner that will put our collective resources to their greatest use. This is what an effective leader does. After the September 11 attacks and the Afghani War that followed, many Americans (and other countries) had a collective desire to help rebuild America, but we were never given a direction and there was no leadership. Many groups tried to do it on their own, but government and leadership are crucial to making such work successful. This is the hope and expectation I have for the Obama administration and the commitment I will make to my country in my own life’s work.

Americans are not afraid of hard work and with the right leadership and encouragement, Americans can do great things. It is my greatest hope for you and me and all mankind that an Obama administration will live up to its promises of making this country not the red or the blue states, democrats or republicans, but rather the United States of America. Today I elected Obama for me, you, America, and the whole wide world.