I just wanted to thank Jess for a great post entitled “Barack Obama: A Great Symbolic Victory, But not the Beginning of a New American Paradigm” — also for something to chew on. I bid that all take a read by clicking here.

After reflecting on Jesse’s post, and as the excitement generated by last night’s results ebbs away, I thought I’d make mention of a couple of things—I agree that, as Jess had written that this:

…is indeed an historic moment and one worthy of celebration, but the sooner Obama starts to tackle the problems of the economy and the security of the United States and the world with real actions the better.

The fact that he is now president elect illustrates that his message of hope has already been vindicated, but I too hope that he can deliver on his promise of change. I agree that Obama will have to start managing his electorate’s, and indeed the world’s expectations. The recession, the American involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, global warming—none of these issues will respond to campaign rhetoric alone, beautiful as it is. Writes Jesse:

In order to do that he will have to face the impossible: the further slow-down of the American economy in the name of the environment. Is he up to that task while China asserts its right to replace a million bicycles with a million cars?

I am hopeful because this week, I am part of a generation that is bringing a message of hope and change to the world and, while not American, I share in the joyful anticipation of the possibilities. The responsibility, as was hinted at last night, neither ends nor begins with Obama, but rather with the American people themselves, or even more than that, us, as citizens of the world at large.

In the ensuing years, will we take up that mantle of change? I don’t know. But if one thing is true, it’s that I am more hopeful today than I was yesterday. And while it might not be enough to sustain us indefintely, it may act as a catalyst for a change that is more enduring — one that anticipates a day that we will sacrifice growth and all that it brings in the name of a sustainable existence. So, in reflecting on the title of your post, Jess, I might have re-worked it with a question mark: Beginning of a New American Paradigm?