Now that the introductions are out of the way...

I'm leaving for Scotland in about a week, but I actually don't want to talk about that. I'd rather discuss something more nationally relevant. Aka, the election.

Now I hate talking about politics with people. I generally dislike arguing, and I've found that unless two people fundamentally agree on a variety of principles, the discussion inevitably turns into an argument. Neither side is going to convince the other to change their mind, so why strain a relationship by attempting to do so? Granted, this is a bit of a generalization. I'm sure there are people out there who have perfectly pleasant bi-partisan chats. But I've yet to be a part of that type of conversation.

What I really want to talk about is not about the specifics of the election -- who you support, what issues are important to you, etc. What's been sticking in my mind is something much simpler than that, something that, conceivably, should resonate with every American, regardless of party. And that is the fact that last night Barack Obama became the first black American to accept the nomination for President.

It struck me suddenly yesterday. I had been so caught up in the hubbub of the election -- the attack ads, the VP selections, the constant media coverage -- that I had forgotten the monumental significance of Obama's candidacy. And I don't mean that in the sense of him being "the messiah of American society" or whatever overblown adjectives you can throw at him. I freely admit to being an Obama supporter, but in this case my praise is not for him, but for America as a whole.

I can't pretend to have the age or the education to fully appreciate or discuss the magnitude of this achievement. I can't quote statistics, cite other historical firsts, or act like I was born any time near the Civil Rights movement, much less have been a part of it. But I can say that more than any other point in my life, I feel like I am living history, that I was witness to something I will proudly tell my grandchildren about. And I imagine that my feelings are only a fraction of those who truly own the moment -- the people who stood up and fought for the equality and standards that I take for granted.

But just think of it, think of how far we've come. Think of the sacrifice and the efforts over the centuries of this country's existence, all the losses and setbacks before this point. Suddenly there is a direct connection between an American history textbook and real life.

It might be silly for me to end on a grand, sweeping note. As I said above, I'm not really qualified to talk about the historical or political gains involved in this situation. I'm just an average American, who's goddamn grateful to be a part of a nation that still views freedom as a real destination, regardless of the type of path we cross to get there.

Um, hello.

Anyone who knows me well will be a little confused by my decision to start a blog. I'm not very good at keeping a written journal, and even when I had a livejournal back in ye olden days I was reluctant to post particularly personal stories on it. So a blog looks like a pretty bad idea.

But the idea had been sort of stewing in my head for most of the summer, from a modest poetry blog to a grand retelling of all of my escapades. Combine this egoism with my recent decision to baa along with the other study abroad students and have a travel journal and you end up with another addition to the blogspot family.

So prepare for more of the above pompousness (pomposity? That can't be right). With luck I'll accidentally be funny, and with a miracle maybe insightful. To all those who stick around to read, critics and groupies (yeah, right) alike, thanks in advance.

M