In Brazil, Lula da Silva, a northeastern (heavily discriminated against in other parts of the nation) steel worker who lost a finger while working became the first Brazilian president from the working class, and so far has had the highest approval ratings in recent history. In Chile, Michelle Bachelet is the first woman elected president in a heavily social conservative country. More importantly, she is the daughter of a general who, for defending the constitution, was tortured to death by Pinochet. And on and on.

But this takes the cake in terms of being unprecedented and, to an extent, unexpected.

this is the best election of my life.

my life has stretched from bull connor in the statehouse to barack obama in the white house.

it is the greatest triumph for justice of my life.

I'm in Montgomery, Alabama this morning for work. Spent the night here. Made a pilgrimage to the Civil Rights Memorial which includes the ingraved names of 40 people who were murdered by the Klan and where the quote from MLK reads "..until justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream."

I'm somewhat ashamed and dissapointed to live in the South this morning. Racism is clearly alive and well here. The final numbers in Georgia do suggest a "Bradley Effect" in that they are not nearly as close as the polls had it. But, I'll take the potential of a post-racial VA and IN as a start.

But oh I'm feelin Good!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVw0Mb8XR9M

In someway this reflects the image back onto you and draws you into the conversation. Forces you along with all of your readers to take a good long at ourselves in that mirror. Find our selves and define ourselves through this conversation. Perhaps coming to greater self awareness.

I watched Barack Obama speak there in Selma, but I did not see Rev. Lowery. Thank you for sharing this with us.

Good night (on the first day of our new era, November 5, 2008). We'll see you tomorrow.

Sleep tight and God Bless you.