On Tuesday, November 4, at 9pm, I decided to go to sleep. It was not necessary to stay awake to watch the election unravel before my eyes as it was obvious all along that Obama would win. My travels to the states were not to be present for the election, but for other personal reasons.

It just so happens that I was able to be in North Carolina to see and hear the last minute campaigning both locally and nationally. Never have I seen so much of a buzz around an election and it was quite overwhelming to see how many banners, posters, flags and bumper stickers adorned cars, houses and buildings.

In speaking online with others in Anguilla, I was informed that people stayed up all night, there were motorcades and much excitement. In watching CNN, it also become quite clear that the entire world was as excited as the Americans about the new change that will hopefully be forthcoming in the USA. It speaks volumes for the civil rights movement, the dream of Martin Luther King and race relations in America to finally see realized an African American President. Growing up in rural America and experiencing first hand the closed mindedness of most conservatives, I never thought I would see the day that this would happen. It is such a relief and a breath of fresh air to see that in the past fifty years, even in the sight of adversity, America can still continue to keep advancing in many ways.

America needed change and they finally got what they wanted. Now, the onus is on President Elect Obama to come through with the many promises he has made. He has a tough road ahead and will now need the support from the American public now more than ever. The change that he wants to affect will be possible in light of the fact that the Senate now has more democrats than republicans. Therefore, bills he wants passed or new endeavours, in theory, will also be supported by the legislative branch of Government. I believe that the most important task he has, besides repairing the economy, is improving America’s reputation in the world and making amends for the bad decisions made by the Bush administration. America has lost the respect of many nations and we all hope that Obama can go on a global campaign to improve old relations and foster new ones so that he can bring peace to the world.

With a fresh, new and young President in Office, it is clear that one of the main reasons he got there was because young people spoke loudly with their votes. This election has inspired a generation of young American voters to continue to actively participate in politics and moreover has hopefully inspired an entire world of young people to know that change can take place. Congratulations to President Elect Obama! Now it is time for him to get to work!

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