Obama Wins!

I am so pleased. It was a long night. We went to bed around midnight before the election results were in. My youngest daughter had a fever and was up every couple of hours. Normally, this would make for a taxing night, but I welcomed it last night as it gave me the chance to check the internet on and off (after administering doliprane and milk/water). I was pretty certain and hopeful that Obama would win but also fearful that he would not.

I didn't have much chance to watch the morning news before the school run, but was astonished at how excited the French reporters were (one gentleman was barely able to contain himself). I was even more astonished to hear some of the American interviewees respond in French.

Obama has been on the front page of journals and newspapers in France for months. The African community has been especially excited and rooting for him. Obama changes the look of power. In France where racism doesn't officially exist or is discounted (everyone is French first and there is no such thing as affirmative action), racism is more covert and insidious. Obama challenges the underlying perceptions of what power can look like.

Truly historic! Let's hope he picks a diverse cabinet of progressive men AND women.