Tuesday night, Barack Obama was elected the next president of the United States. Like many across the country we are thrilled with the possibilities; but we can’t help wonder about the challenges to the dream.

Without doing a lot of hand-wringing, we are concerned about the real possibilities of sustaining the harmony we heard on Tuesday night. Both sides were inspiring. Obama crafted a speech that was passionate and was designed to illustrate his desire to reach across not only aisles, but social and cultural barriers as well. McCain’s gracious concession speech showed him to be the good soldier he is, and, by example, urge his fellow Republicans to recognize the nation’s new leader.

This is, in fact, a very troubled time in United States history and it requires a truly bi-partisan effort to resolve problems much larger than many of us have seen in our lifetimes.

We have seen what power can do, however. The Bush administration, greedy and selfish, did such damage to the Republican Party that they’ve lost both houses and will need years to rebuild. We are hoping the new president can escape what may be his biggest problem – his own party — and hope they not become too flushed with power.

This may prove to be Obama’s biggest challenge, if his dream is to be realized.

 

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