Today, we elected Barack Obama the forty-fourth president of the United States of America.

Some people are ecstatic. Some are satisfied. Some are disappointed. But whatever our particular viewpoints may be, we can all agree that this is a historic and inspiring time for our country. We’ve seen people who’ve never paid attention to politics register and get involved. We’ve voted in record numbers. And, of course, we’ve elected the first African-American President of the United States of America.

I’ll write more after a good night’s sleep, but for now I’ll offer a simple continuation of a theme we’ve seen for awhile now: hope. Sure, it’s a theme that’s been picked on and undercut by naysayers, but I think we’ve seen today that hope has power. Hope can be so strong and so compelling, and we can want it so much, that it becomes palpable. Hope became palpable tonight in the millions of people gathered today in long lines, and tonight in parks and bars and living rooms around the country.

It’s ok for hope to be a defining element of our country. In fact, it’s probably crucial. And no matter who we supported before today, none of us have anything to lose by having hope for tomorrow. 

In his speech tonight, Barack Obama reached out to all those who did not vote for him. He asked for their willingness to work with him for a better country. Of my many hopes tonight, one of my greatest is that Americans will rise to this occasion, take the opportunity to embrace hope in all its risks and rewards, and reach back.