I, too, was a white girl in the South who became a part of the civil rights movement and horrified my family and friends, but it was worth it to have been a part of something so important and meaningful. I also remember the excitement at the election of John Kennedy, although I was too young to vote. I have not felt that sense of excitement and hope for a brighter tomorrow since then until two nights ago when I watched the networks announce that Barack Obama would be our next president.. Brenda K.