It was a compromise of his principles and a lessening of the man.

It was an insult to the American voters.

It was the last shrill voice of a generation of mostly men that has believed that we are the sum of our fears and prejudice. It was the last time we will be told to view a man (or a woman) through a lens of character assignation and baseless innuendo.

It was the last time we will be pandered to, lied to, and encouraged to believe that we are divided, that we have few common dreams and aspirations.

"Joe the plumber" is part of us, but we are not him; we are much more than that singular image of America. To hold him up that way misses the diversity of who we are and polarizes us into a collection of individuals with no shared purpose or dreams.

Michelle Obama was criticized when she said: "For the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country." It was ill-advised for her to say that, and it needed some clarification. But I am not famous or in the public eye. So, I can say that for the first time in a long time, certainly more than eight years, I am really proud of my country."

It restores my hope; It renews my belief that we are a better people, that we can do more. Barak Obama has raised our vision and our spirits.

It reminds me of Neil Armstrong's words when he first stepped on the moon's surface: "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind." Of course, the difference now is that it was not a small step; it was a step of immense proportions.

The years ahead look a little bit brighter.