USA
Never in my life have I been prouder to be an American than I have this morning. Too often it is easy for us to become cynical and to believe that our political process is corrupt and misrepresents the desires of the people. Too often the people of my generation approach the political process with apathy and frustration. This election proved that young people need only to be inspired and listened to and they will let their voice be heard. I take great pride in my generation and every citizen that voted yesterday. Whether they voted for Barack Obama or John McCain. Days like yesterday, with record turnouts and lines around the block, remind us of why this country is a bastion for freedom and democracy around the world. Every citizen, should they so choose, has a say in the future of this country. Every citizen can mold and shape public policy. And finally, we have proven that every citizen can become president of this great country.
Our country has an ugly history when it comes to racism and bigotry. Change has not come peacefully. Slavery ended with a civil war. The Civil Rights Movement was met with firehoses and police dogs. But yesterday, on a Tuesday in November, an African American was elected president of the most powerful nation in the world. There weren’t riots or angry protests. There wasn’t violence or uprising. People simply went to a ballot box and cast a vote and in doing so changed the world and changed our nation’s history.
Now we must live up to our promises and our potential and fight for what we so passionately demanded. We have thrown away the politics of fear in favor of optimism and a desire to be the nation that we believe we can be. We have shown the world that we do believe in the principles our country was founded on. We have shown our parents generation, the baby boomers, that our generation is not one to be cast aside. We are not the apathetic and materialistic individuals that you made us out to be. We are all Americans and today I am incredibly grateful and proud to be a member of that group.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”
- Ryan
