Il' nuovo presidente!

Today in the small medieval hilltown of Cortona, Italy-I am proud to be an American. The last eight years has been damaging to my concept of what it means to be American and has slowly turned my nationality into a source of shame. 

But this morning I am proud.  

I am proud that we have overcome entrenched biases to elect an African American, that we are moving away from cold war politics, that we elected a man in tune with our modern global society, and that we as a people have chosen someone who can rally the disenfranchised, disaffected, and the plain apathetic to give everyone a voice. This is larger than one man, larger than the presidency; this is about the American people. 

My optimism is not blind. Barack Obama will be facing immense challenges, both known and unknown, and I do not expect him to be the solution to all of the problems our country faces. But I do see this as a new beginning, and it is one that I can believe in. 

Today I am proud to proclaim "Io sono Americana!"