A day to be remembered by history

Nearly two years ago, on a frigid winter morning at my parents' home in Illinois, I was gathered with family and a group of friends to watch Sen. Barack Obama announce his candidacy for president of the United States from the steps of the Old State Capitol in Springfield (the building where, nearly 150 years earlier, another famous future president from Illinois delivered his "House Divided" speech). I remember viewing the event as historic, but also thinking the same thought that many others probably had: As the state's junior senator, under the age of 50, and an African American to boot, he probably won't get very far. Maybe in 2012 or 2016.

Having said that, I suspect that few could have predicted or even imagined just how rapidly Obama's campaign would meet with unprecedented success. I include myself in that assessment. To be writing a blog post reflecting on his election as the next president of the United States is rather surreal.

Surreal, indeed, but also a tremendous source of pride. To see the senator of my native state at Grant Park in Chicago addressing a crowd of hundreds of thousands — many of whom were understandably overcome with emotion — was perhaps the most uniquely patriotic feeling I've ever experienced. Americans made history on Tuesday night; and regardless of the triumphs and trials we may face during the next four years, that alone is worth celebrating. It's a hallmark of the tremendous progress made by a nation that has seen more than its share of racial struggles — from slavery and segregation to riots in our cities' streets and social stigma. When Martin Luther King, Jr., spoke of the dream that his children would one day live in a nation where they would be judged by the content of their character rather than the color of their skin, did he envision the astounding success of an individual like Barack Obama?

The impact of Tuesday's election will hardly be confined to America's shores. All around the world, people watched as the United States elected its first black president — a charismatic and youthful individual whose message of hope, unity, shared purpose, and cooperative spirit must be a breath of fresh air for those overseas who had grown disillusioned with the obstinate and arrogant tone of America's foreign policy during the past eight years. I'm extremely hopeful that, in the next four years, this nation will make great strides toward repairing its deeply damaged reputation and restoring its standing in the international community. Tuesday was a giant leap in that direction.

The challenges awaiting President-elect Obama are monumental — so much so, in fact, that they're scary to even think about. He'll need a competent, well-prepared Cabinet and a cooperative Congress to tackle historic economic and energy crises, two ongoing wars, a broken health-care system, an environment in peril, and a nation still deeply divided. Nevertheless, I have confidence in his ability. Obama is a man who has earned his place in the annals of American history before even setting foot in the White House. The next four years could truly be a remarkable time for a nation crying out for hope and change.