Yes Whoopi, McCain’s speech glowed with good will. Such a change from his campaign-speak. It was the “old” McCain who conceded with such aplomb.With all that behind us now, and the glorious way our country responded to our president-elect, our work is cut of for all of us. When Obama spoke of sacrifices, he was fortuitous and honest. With the economy sinking, along with the world’s, and our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan draining our coffers, and more importantly, deaths of our young soldiers and Afghans and Iraqis, sacrifices must be made. Tax cuts during wars and huge military outlays?Who is naive enough to think that’s the way to go?That’s the Bush way…the wrong way. Our financial debacle, along with the world’s, speaks of sacrifice. Obama has inherited an ill wind, but if anyone can turn it around, we, can with a great man at the helm…Obama!

I was born in this country. On September 11th I became an American. On November 4, 2008 I became a participating American, ready do whatever my President asks of me to help better my country. Why? Because President-Elect Barack Hussein Obama has a brillian plan to move our nation towards financial recovery for ALL, improve our standing in the international community, and take our country healthfully into the future through the education of our children! President-Elect Obama’s skin color IS the icing on the cake for little ole me! Now I have an ACTUAL person who LOOKS LIKE THEM to point my grandchildren to as a visual reality when I tell them they can “even become President of the United States of America if you want to and are willing to do the work.” Today I stand taller and feel more calm and confident about myself as a human being. Maybe because I’m following the example of my newly elected Commander-in-Chief? I’m so glad I lived to see this day!

Barack will ask all of us to participate and contribute to the common good in this experiment called the USA. A more creative WPA. Jobs. Our current “leader”, after reacting to the WTC attack, asked us to go shopping (as ROME burned). Like the simpleton I am I actually called my credit union in Sept. 2001 and asked to know when War Bonds would go on sale…DUH! Now we are broke, China and Saudi Arabia owns us (holds our DEBT) and no one in Washington had a plan to PAY FOR THE war on terror. Just watch the creative solutions BHO offers US! Like FDR and JFK, we are back on the block of the world stage (without having to apologize for our stupidity in Washington). Come on Jan 20, 2009.

This is worth a read: Obama Wins: Why All Americans Have a Reason to Celebrate http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/obama-wins-why-all-amer…

Whoopi, Yes, you are so right! I voted for Obama. His speech was wonderful. But, I loved McCain’s concession speech. It was the best I had ever heard. I cried. If only he had shown that grown-up side while he was in the race. God Bless Us All. We will get through all of this! We are Americans and again we can prove to the world just how wonderful we are.

I have cried all day as I have read Whoopi’s article and all your comments. Tears of JOY! Kept having to reapply mascara, and finally went with the waterproof kind that I hate because I was tired of wiping the black streaks off my cheeks. As the national news is coming on, I’ll have to break out the hankies again, as the clips of last night’s celebration worldwide will reduce me again. I’m so proud of my country, and for the first time, my state. My thanks to all the great ladies of WOW and the fabulous ladies who comment. You have sustained me through a difficult campaign, and gave me hope when I wouldn’t allow myself to feel it. I am grateful to have had this forum, as it was great comfort to me. Kudos!

A bittersweet victory. One more much maligned minority overcomes. I was and will continue to be for Obama till the end. I do believe he has the change we need in his heart/head. Bittersweet because of the passing of Prop. 8 in California. Aren’t we past that? Come on… Arkansas- denying straight, unmarried couples to adopt or foster children just in case a ‘queer’ might slip through the cracks? (my words, not theirs, but not far off.) One more minority left to conquer the ignorance. BTW- Whoopi- I saw you were getting slagged in the blogs on the HuffPost the other day because of your ‘last name’. I chuckled, but didn’t correct-let them distract themselves for a bit w/that. ;)

Thank you Whoopi; agree totally. I am white, 70, and everyone i know in their 70s voted for Obama. Yes, this is the first time we’ve stepped onto the path of justice. People love Obama and his family. I do. I have never loved a political figure before. This is a glimpse of what can happen in the future, what a mature America and world looks like. We have long thorny pathways to travel, but finally someone we trust. Imagine that. Trust!

I just returned from seeing the play Big River which is the story from Mark Twain of Huck Finn and Jim and their journey down the river on a raft. At one point Jim and Huck sing a song to each other about when they each look out of their own eyes (Jim’s are brown and Huck’s are blue) they see the same things. I immediately thought of last night and how we truly are all the same. When my children asked me about the differences between people I remember inviting them into a dark room and closing the door and asking them what color everyone was - we were all the same. It is the inner person that differentiates us. That is our measurement.

I have often regretted that I was not born a black child in America. When I have voiced this regret I have been met with looks of astonishment from white and black friends and family. I suppose it is easy to talk the talk when you don’t have to walk the walk, but my regret has much to do with being the mother of black children and wanting to feel what they feel, to have experienced what they experience, to shield them and provide them with more wisdom than I can ever have. Instead, I’m a white woman in her late 60s and I am still searching for understanding. Last night I watched tears run down Jesse Jackson’s face and wondered what was going through his mind. Did he think, “At last,” as I was thinking? In six decades I have not felt as much love for my country as I felt when polls closed on the West Coast and the U.S. map turned bluer and bluer and the words “Obama victory!” flashed across the screen. At last! At last millions of Americans put aside racism and chose to create a new history for our country. At last we voted overwhelmingly to elect our 44th President for the content of his character. Just in time because I have black grandchildren who are getting ready to become whatever their potential says they can become and to take their places in the new America.

Whoopie, Your post was the first post I read this morning. I spent the day thinking about what I would like to say. I even watched, The View today to see how Beautiful your smile would be. I Cried when Sherry cried. I know being a white women having grown up in Malibu Cali(back when I could ride a horse to school, on the beach and to Trancas Market,with the last of Rincon Cowboys…). I was completely unaware of Racial Problems until I was ten years of age. That was when my Grandfather came to live with us.( His stay was short lived!) During lunch one day he stood up and started pounding on the table and yelling the “N” word along with a whole lot of swear words. I was terrified of him from that point on. I had no idea why someone would behave that way. The black people I knew were all looked up to a far as I knew, and most certainly by me.The music in my home was predominantly black those of color I had personal relationships with were the only three black people I knew. Sammy Davis Jr.. Smithy, the best horseshoer( He had a waiting list. If you have ever had horses, it is critical to have a good horseshoer.) I would sit for hours on the hitching post holding horses and listening to Smithy tell me stories and always asked for his coffee to be “Hot and black, just like he liked his women.” It always made me giggle. the only other black person I knew was Teddy, my friend, he was the janitor at my school. He has always been an Angel in my Heart. When I needed to get home during fires, Teddy would help me. When I was in need of help, Teddy was always there for me. will never forget when I was a young teen, teddy got A Thing, It was the coolest car I had ever seen. It was light green and converted into a boat. When I started High School is when I became super aware. I was in a singing group and I fall for the best Tenor. We had made plans to go to homecoming. Word got out ,I was cornered in a bathroom while he was beat up. Then I was told Why he was beaten, me. I know your expecting to hear that this was a gang of white kids, no! It was a group of black kids. The next day at school the Black Panthers staged a take over of the schools Quad. My first real crush never spoke to me again and shortly after that he left school.I too, moved to a new school. And I never talked to anybody about those events. I just became aware that people did not want black and white people dating. And I knew something was very wrong with situation about race. It was the early sixties. I became a radical High Schooler and worked for Civil Rights through a YMCA program. I can not imagine what it is like for black people today, to see the walls crumbling down. The walls of ignorance, the walls that separated us, the walls of unfairness. I sing out in, Thank You God, for this is so amazing for people everywhere. This is a sure sign that America is growing up. That We Can Be, The Dream, the Hope and Now The Inspiration for All People to Be The Change We wish to see …. Not to dampen, as if one could, but the work is not yet done. Their are still many people to raise up to Higher grounds. Their are still Civil Rights to be fought for. May the events of this Election Outcome, be just a springboard to get the rest of the work done…Biggest of Hugs to you and All. This is a day of Grace and Joy , A Leap for All Mankind. Please keep posting and talking about it so others may learn and grow from your Joy at this part of your Journey.