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Published: December 9th 2008
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President Obama
(No, I did not take this picture.) My mother called me at 4:30 in the morning to tell me that McCain was giving his concession speech. I got online and watched the live video stream and when Barack made his speech, my mother, all the neighborhood friends at the house, and I (here in England) cried. Everytime he speaks, I cry. That's what hope does to me.
At the American embassy in London, 1500 people gathered throughout the night to watch the results. They drank Starbucks and Budweiser and listened to Johnny Cash. Of course, everyone went crazy when Obama won!
Yesterday, I bought 4 newspapers. Of course it was the big news of the day. As I went through the line, the cashier and everyone behind me was looking at me like, "Why is she buying all these newspapers?" I said proudly, "He's my president." I walked away feeling emotional, realizing that was the first time I've ever felt so proud of my country.
On this day, I'm proud to be an American. I wish I had an American flag, but I can't seem to find one.
Plus, British people are apparently jaded and cynical. I'm so happy, proud, excited, and they're all just kinda like, "Eeehh, we'll see what he does, " like this election isn't gonna change anything. Everyone is acting like it's not that big of a deal!! One guy even said to me, "Well remember that Ronald Reagan was good at giving speeches, too." And a lady on the train said, "Yeah well.... Obama certainly has charisma." Then she went back to reading her book. (As if that's the only thing he has going for him.) I'm like, "It's not just charisma, it's is brilliant ideas and the fact that he's a good, honest man!" A guy in the pub (when I was celebrating with Jack Daniels) said, "I wish we had a prime minister who was honest and who made us excited. Hell, someone who will just do the right thing!" I said, "Obama will show 'im how it's done." Not to prove that we're superior or anything like that, but simply to show them the way.
The fact that he was even elected is change number one. Furthermore, it's up to us, the American citizens to change our country, too. We can't lay the entire burden on Obama's shoulders. We have to get off our asses and work and do the right thing.
These people here have a different mindset, a defeated mindset.
I feel so isolated here in England. I don't have anyone to celebrate with, but I'm so excited that Barack Obama is our next president, and I won't let them bring me down; I know what America is capable of.
So another reason I'm proud to be an American: no matter how badly we've been burned,
we still have hope. Brits have been burned, and they've given up. But I can see that Americans are different.
We still believe that change is possible. We now have the chance to show them how a country can be made great.
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