Congratulations to Barack Obama

I was shocked today. I was shocked by the number of e-mails in my inbox from my European colleagues congratulating me on the Barack Obama's victory. Is it possible that one singular event in time could restore the faith of others in the US. Unbelievalbe.

I was walking to work this morning after having heard the election results. Today was the once a year fall market in Baden, vendors come from around the region to sell their wares. Jackets, candles, belts, shirts, hats, candy all the typical flea market fair. One both in particular struck me. We have the same type of booths at the swap-o-rama in US. Vendors that sell mirrors with heavy metal band logos, or American Indian images etched in the middle. If you have ever been to an American flea market you know what I am talk about.

When I passed the both, the vendor had just hung a confederate flag in the back of the trailer and was just setting up two American flags in front of his truck. While the huge 3 foot by 5 foot Confederate flag caught my eye two small American flags, no larger than a piece of 8 x 10 paper struck me. These little, almost unseen flags brought a great sense of pride to me as an American.

It is this sense of pride that I think is being felt across Europe. I recieved congratulatory remarks from Brits, French, and Spainards. E-mails from countries across the region. It was an amazing thing to witness from abroad. The emotion I saw in the eyes, and heard in the heartfelt remarks of others today really made me feel proud to be an American. That is something that I have to admit I haven't felt is some time.

While politics is politics and it is will always be a bit of a show I will be going to bed tonight with only one thing on my mind.

Yes We Can.