Barack Obama Victory Speech - Thoughts and Favorite Quotes

Well, the '08 US presidential election is over and most of us are very, very happy with the results and were moved by President-elect Barack Obama's acceptance speech in Chicago. I must admit I was a bit nervous toward the beginning of the the results evening when it appeared that John McCain was doing well in some of the eastern states. But, my anxiety eased significantly when John King on CNN visually illustrated with his "magic wall" large screen election monitor that it was basically impossible for McCain to win the election based on the states which had already reported. When Wolf Blitzer announced that Barack Obama won the election I just could not believe it for a few seconds. I asked myself, "Aren't there supposed to be re-counts and bickering for many weeks to come?" I have become so used to disappointments in life that it was almost a new thing to psychologically accept a victory!

I am not African American but cannot describe how emotional I felt during the whole evening. After having lived as a minority in a foreign country for many years I know what it's like to have people treat me a certain way based solely on the color of my skin. Sometimes I have been treated better than I should have but many times I was indeed treated worse. Anyways, for these reasons I have very strong feelings against racism and was so very proud when Barack Obama, Michelle Obama and their beautiful young daughters emerged on the stage in Chicago. It truly was a magic moment. I was so proud when I saw African Americans crying tears of joy and celebrating, and seeing white people and people of all races celebrating together. In this regard we witnessed America taking a giant step forward. While it's hard to make racial discrimination vanish completely forever, the '08 presidential election witnessed incredible progress.

Below I've listed my favorite quotes from Barack Obama's acceptance speech. I have included these quotes in this hub because while Obama's speech lasted for just 17 minutes and his words went buy rapidly, reading them here helps to understand his thinking and vision. Obama is doing something that no other president has really done in our lifetimes. He is reaching out, not only to American citizens but to people everywhere. He's inspiring us to think for ourselves, work hard and work together, and to take a long-term view for the common good and future generations.

"It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, Black, White, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, Gay, Straight, Disabled and not disabled, Americans who send a message to the world that we have never been just a collection of individuals or a collection of red states and blue states. We are and always will be the United States of America."

"I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to. It belongs to you. It belongs to you."

"I know you didn't do this just to win an election. I know you didn't do it for me. You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetimes. Two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century."

"The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or in one term. But America, I have never been more hopeful that I am tonight that America we will get there. I promise you that we as a people will get there."

"This victory alone is not the change we seek. It is only for us the chance to make that change and that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you, a new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice. So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism, of responsibility, where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look not only after ourselves but each other."

"And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn I may not have won your vote tonight but I hear your voices. I need your help. And I will be your president too."

"And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and places and to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of the world, our stories are singular but our destinies are shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand."

"The true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope."

"Tonight let us ask ourselves if our children should live to see the next century, if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Anne Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made? This is our change to answer that call."