A brand new day

Congratulations to America on its election of Barack Obama.

Growing up in the South in the 1960s and 70s, I never dreamed that we'd one day leap the racial divide in such dramatic fashion. We can only hope that this presidency will help people give up all those old ideas about our differences and embrace the ways that we're all alike.

Obama's election also is a reaction to the past eight years of mismanagement and greed. It's time we take back our country from the corporate overlords who have cynically played off people's fears and biases as they've lined their own pockets. It's time that we lead the world by example rather than by military muscle. It's time for government to once again put the people first.

Tuesday's election was a good start.