Warm is still, The blood that runs through this countries veins.

Si mi amigo y amiga, this election has moved me to the point of actually taking a pause from this period of inner restructuring and isolation. Instead of writing a clever quote or posting lyrics from a meaningful song I will be writing a commentary.

I was ready to throw in the towel, declare myself an ex-patriot, fully accept the conspiracy theory that the U.S president is merely a puppet, that the world is actually being ran by a shadow government, and move out to Brazil like Edward Norton in the Incredible Hulk to live the rest of my days away from this so called modern civilization.

But low and behold, Obama steps in. Here I am, telling myself that I wouldn't get caught up in all this and then boom. . . a tear in my eye and that choked up feeling as the newly elect president steps up to speak. He has truly become a symbol. He made it to the top, and opened up those gates that were previously closed. Sure they taught us in school that you can become anything you want. But there was always that one thing that loomed over us, looking up the presidents in history books and other places made that position seem like a club that only certain individuals can get into.

Obama and this election in general has sparked up that hope and has actually made this statement true: Anyone, if he/she works hard enough and puts forth all their effort, can become president no matter what your racial background or gender is. Not just president, but one can achieve and succeed in anything they want.

Our votes actually counted. . .and yes I did vote despite my cynicism. The country as a whole wanted a change and it happened. Even the house and Congress has a majority of Democrats filling up those seats. Now we just have to see how incorruptible the newly elected can be.

For the first time I can actually write this statement and feel it in my heart: This Latino, this Mexicano, this light skinned brown hermano. . . is proud to be an American.

Now back to my cave.

-Jose Antonio Moreno Diaz Perez