YES WE DID

Dear Sam, last night was one of the most important, defining moments of your soon-to-be life. Last night, Americans came together, across political parties, across economic lines, across racial divides and TOGETHER with ONE VOICE elected Pres. Barack Obama.

Pres. Obama's father was from Kenya, in Africa, and his mother was living in Hawaii, going to college, when they met. She was white, he was black. They had little in common, other than a love of learning, and a love for one another. Pres. Obama went on to live in Hawaii as well as Indonesia, and mainland America. He has family in the United States as well as African. He is a man filled with hope, for our nation, for our children, for the earth, sky & water, and for the world. He is a man who will fill his cabinet with the best and brightest to ensure the best policies are put into law for this nation and the world.

Pres. Obama is black. While that wasn't a particularly important factor for many of us voting, while we voted for him based upon his personality, education, abilities, and the direction he will take this great nation, it is important now. Pres. Obama is the first black president of America. Your dad and I are white. We can read every book, talk to every person, and we will never know what it's like to be black in America. We can never truly relate to you on that level. America has been and undoubtedly will continue to be a racist nation. That is not to say that all citizen or even a majority of citizens are racist. Rather, that is to say that some are, and those some often make it difficult for others. However, with a black man as the leader of this nation, I do believe things will start to change. And I will be able to tell you, will unwaivering confidence, that you can grow up to be anything you set your mind to, that the color of your skin will not be a barrier to your career. I will be able to say that, because of Pres. Obama.