And the Euphoria continues

I still feel pretty euphoric about Tuesday. I know we have a long road ahead, but there is a prevailing sense of hope - to quote Rev Wright via President Obama, an audacity of hope.
That is a cool phrase. It has such significance.

We've lived too long in fear. Yes we needed a good dose of fear in the days following 9/11. A good dose of fear and a healthy respect that not everyone likes us. I remember living in England in my youth and learning much to my surprise and horror that the United States was not that popular. We had to pretend to be Canadians when we went to France so we would not be harassed - and then had to deal with the whole separatist issue, which was awkward.

I do remember one day though, when my friend and I were in France, there was a terrorist attack at a deli not far from where we were staying in the Rive Gauche. I was reading the newspapers as well as I could to get information but it was still not a pretty situation. We hightailed it to the American Embassy for advice. Two Marine guards were there and I don't think I've ever been so happy to see a Marine in my life. They advised us to get away from Paris as soon as we could. That night, when they were off duty, the escorted us to the Gare Du Nord and put us on a train to Amsterdam. They were cool, calm and totally professional and a great comfort at a scary time.

Unlike our leaders at 9/11. Bush and Cheney couldn't wait to take away our rights and civil liberties. Unlike real Republicans - the ones who existed before Reagan and the religious right hijacked the party - they wanted government interference in every part of our lives and stupidly their cohorts on the Hill gave it to them.

Now change has come and I welcome it with open arms. It's not going to be easy to do - change never is - but with ALL of us supporting our new president, maybe soon we can see a return to prosperity, and dare I say it - the hopeful optimism that is so much a part of our character as a country.