Every American has reason to be proud today, and the world is proud of America once again. 

This was not accomplished by false bravado following a terrorist attack.  This was not accomplished by tough talk, or meaningless platitudes about freedom and democracy.  This was not accomplished by unilateral aggression and fictitious colations.  No, this was accomplished by an election.

How can a simple election change so much?

While it is remarkable that we have evolved from slave-holding, to share-cropping and Jim Crow laws, through Separate-But-Equal, to now find ourselves in this moment in history -- giving the oath of office to our first black President -- this alone is not the explanation of the pride.

Maybe it's the singular distinction of being the only Democracy outside of Africa to elect a black head of state.  Even the citizens of socially progressive nations in Western Europe freely admit that they do not think they are even close to electing non-white leaders in their respective countries.  A black President of a majority caucasian country is a stunning development.  Yet by itself, this too does not account for the enormity of what happened today.

My theory?   Barack Obama did not "overcome his color" to become President of the United States of America.  There were plenty of white guys (and one gal) during the Democratic primaries to choose from.   And there were very white guys to choose from on the Republican ticket.

Conversely, Barack Obama did not win because of his color.  A minority black population could mobilize each and every one of their votes for a "black" candidate, and it would still not be enough to close the deal. 

No, despite the many millions of Americans still trapped in the past, paralyzed by fear, and ruled by irrational hatred, there were still millions more that were not.  In this election, Americans as a whole put aside their prejudices and did the right thing.  They voted for the most capable man for the job.  The rest of the world knows this.  The rest of the world (and most Americans) appreciate it.  This is why it's cool to be an American again.  This is the America that leads the world by example, not by force.

Thirty five years ago Martin Luther King spoke of a dream, of a land where where a man is judged not by the color of his skin, but by the content of his character.  Could it be that we finally live in that land?  George Bush, inadvertantly, might have hastened the day, but President Obama's victory is truly one of character over color.  And for a brief moment, before the real and daunting work begins, America and the rest of the world rejoices.

The name MoronInCharge is happily retired.