In the first week of Barack Obama’s big win, I talked with bus drivers, passengers and people at the bus stop and many others. During most conversations, I choked up with gratitude and a profound sense of hope for our country. I am grateful to the tireless, dedicated grass roots organization that got this done.

Obama consistently elevated the tone of the campaign from fear-baiting, gutter politics that has been all too common in recent years. I look forward to four years of inspiring, articulate and thoughtful speeches delivered by a truly elegant man.

NPR’s Weekend Edition broadcast an interview yesterday with an Arabic reporter who said that he wanted a Barack Obama for his own country and he explicitly admired McCain’s concession speech in which he said that Barack Obama was his president too. Showing the world that a democracy sometimes elects the smartest person, and the one with an inspiring message, is the surest way to defeat terrorism. As we face challenges on every front-financial, environmental, military, diplomatic-we need big, bold ideas. Small-minded fear mongering has no power to inspire. The hope of the world rests with Obama.