proud to be american

i feel like an american today. this identity is something that i've struggled with in the past because of my bosnian heritage and i don't doubt that i will always feel both bosnian and american: they are not exclusive. but today, i miss home a lot. i've been watching msnbc.com election converage and other news and being here in france has made me realize just how amercain i truly feel and i will always feel a little sad that i missed spending nov. 4th 2008 with friends and family.

though i stayed awake until 3 am, i eventually fell asleep listening to msnbc.com live coverage of the election. i woke up this morning to the wonderful discovery of a new president elect:

Barack Hussein Obama

though it was a pain to send in that absentee ballot, i am so proud to have voted this year. after watching two disappointing elections in 2000 and 2004, i could not have imagined a more momentous and happy election in 2008. we have a new president, a new direction and the first black president in the history of the united states. wow. this is the american dream and i can't help but to identify with so much of what barack obama represents and stands for: achieving greatness through so much diversity.

here's to the next 4 great but trying years