What can hope inspire?

[caption id="attachment_255" align="aligncenter" width="354" caption="Prior to the election, this huge display in Fairhaven, MA read "Obama Now!" "][/caption]

It feels like many Americans, no matter who they voted for, are now very proud of the U.S. for the historic accomplishment of electing our first African American president. I'm proud of us, too.

Of course, the next question is, "what can he do?" The country is in a bit of a pickle, economically speaking. (In fact, I'm burying MY spare change in the backyard and I really hope you won't dig it up.) Our health care system is great - if you can afford it. We're mired in Iraq, although to an expert military strategist such as myself it is evident that it's time to pack up and head home (I know, I know, not so simple). And we continue to be a divided country in so many ways - by religion, social class, political leanings, race, taste in shoes, and more. One election can't erase that.

However. The last eight years were a study in fear and resignation. Our foreign relations were often embarrassing. Our president couldn't pronounce "nuclear." (This is major.) We responded to an attack by retaliating - mostly at the wrong country, since Iraq clearly had nothing to do with 9/11. Oops, sorry, Iraq. Chances are good that that we can do better.

Obama represents even more than our first African American president (and I sort of worry about that term, because like so many of us, he has a mixed lineage and I feel bad labeling him). He is highly intelligent (what a novel idea! a smart president!). He appears to be principled and has the ability to analyze and deal with information in a sensible, non-hotheaded way. And just as lovely is the fact that well over half of voting Americans gave him a mandate and are squarely behind his presidency. While the stock market bounced up and then tumbled during and following the election, showing that optimism is fragile, I do believe that having a president we can be proud of, and one who clearly represents the future and not some worn-out past, will make a difference in citizens' faith in the U.S. and the way we move forward as a nation.

Could it be??