It's a New Dawn, It's a New Day.

Last night I was moved by a nations politics that wasn't even my own. I stayed up until 2am, despite having work the next day, to see the votes come in for Barack Obama. Only when it looked like a landslide did I go to bed. I had goosebumps. I awoke feeling positive and buoyant, and so, so hopeful that when it comes for Britain to have a voice, we shall look to the States and KNOW that anything is possible.

Last Night, a country built on war and slavery, elected a black man as their 44th President. 53 years after Rosa Parks refused to giver up her seat to a white passenger. 43 years after African Americans were given the right to vote. 40 years after Martin Luther King was assassinated. ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE. Race relations in the US have a deep and colourful history, but now bigots and racists are the minority as people queued for hours and hours yesterday for their voices to be heard.

Barack Obama certainly seems to be an assured, cool and calm person. He treated his opponent, John McCain with grace and did not stoop to his dirty tactics of mud-slinging throughout the campaigns. He promises that he can bring change, and I believe him. His victory speech was so inspiring and instilled a strong feeling of hope, and the belief that anything is possible.

''I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn't start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington — it began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston.
It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give $5 and $10 and $20 to this cause. It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation's apathy; who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep; from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on the doors of perfect strangers; from the millions of Americans who volunteered and organized, and proved that more than two centuries later, a government of the people, by the people and for the people has not perished from this earth. This is your victory.''

''...And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of our world — our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand. To those who would tear this world down: We will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security: We support you. And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright: Tonight, we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope.''

It is also an astonishing fact that Barack is the only anti-war candidate to have ever been voted in during war time. So what happens now? Will he expand the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq or will he finally send the young men and women, fighting for Bush's administration, home? I hope so, and I hope Parliament is sitting up and taking note. Gordon Brown, our PM by default, witness this change, the British people have seen what people power can do and the raping of our financial system, the neglect of our elderly, infirm and sick, and our failing education system will not be tolerated anymore. We will not accept sending our men and women to war zones with equipment that does not protect them, when they give the ultimate sacrifice so people can sleep safely. But we can look to America and see that we CAN bring change. WE choose.

It's a New Dawn, It's a New Day

And I'm feeling good.