04 November 2008

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There is cheering in the streets here in Gone West, and T. tells me there is cheering in the streets in Detroit.

I knew not whether to laugh or cry when they called the election - too soon! what if they were wrong? - and McCain conceded. Jesse Jackson was crying. Oprah was crying. And Barack Obama, our next President, the man who carries a Kenyan name - the word baraka in Kiswahili means blessings - the man who speaks like a black preacher, the man who brought hope back to US American politics, spoke to the nation.

His speech was humble, and uniting. I wanted to cry with joy, and instead I laughed with relief, that our next president will not be one who tolerates racism and bigotry and division at his rallies, but one who promises that we, together, can make things better.

Yes, we can.

Congratulations, President Obama.

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