We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

When that was written Americans held other human beings in the cruelest slavery....

It took 232 years of blood sweat and tears, but today Americans stood up and showed the world that those words really do represent what it means to be an American.

In the past 8 years we have given the world much reason to doubt our sincerity- ignoring the law, torture, 'pre-emptive war' based on lies... today we are rejecting that shameful behavior and the people that supported it.

I don't think Obama is a political 'savior' - I dont know if he will be a great, or even good president (I do know McCain Palin would be a true calamity for America). Obama, for all his charisma and ideals, is where he is because, collectively, Americans are rejecting what has been done to us for the past eight years. We are better than what the republicans have made us.

We have a tough time ahead of us, cleaning up the toxic mess we have been left- but at least america now has a chance to behave as the truly great nation that it is.