Thanks for your great essay. O'Bama (as the Irish who claim him based on his maternal ancestry call him) represents the future; McCain represented the past. We can all be proud - and hopeful.

It's hard to believe that the American people just elected a black man president 40 years after siccing dogs on black citizens attempting to exercise their right to vote.

For all the hubbub about race in this election (and rightfully so, for the most part, I should add) the comment that I felt best summed up attitudes towards Obama came from a blue-collar Pennsylvania worker quoted in today's New York Times. He frankly admitted that he harbored doubts about Obama's candidacy because of his skin color, but that he ultimately cast his vote for the president-elect because other concerns were paramount.

To me (as something of a cynic), that's the essence of a realistic post-racial society -- not one where race is an inconsequential part of our analysis of another person, but one where it's secondary or tertiary to significantly more important issues.

Also, I couldn't believe that hologram either. I still don't know what the holographic lady was saying: the catcalls of my housemates drowned out the television.

Interesting thoughts Sam. What's your take on the recent murmurings from the conservative pundits asserting that the US is a center-right country. On one hand you wouldn't think a center-right country would elect Obama. On the other hand, a center-left country doesn't pass ballot initiatives to ban gay marriage or prevent gay couples from adopting...