Post Election Day in Kenya

A couple of days after the election, I had opportunity to watch the concession speech of John McCain. I was not surrounded by others as I did this, but found myself in a hotel room by myself in Nairobi, Kenya overlooking a park.  The park was populated by Kenyans who had been provided a day off and were celebrating.  The holiday had been declared by the Kenyan President and was his way of recognizing the significance of the American elections.  It’s not often that the outcome of an American election results in a holiday for another country, but in my mind this showed once again the uniqueness of this election in the face of history.  

The revelry could be hear coming through my open window with the small breeze that fluttered the curtains and carried with it the smells of flowers and sunshine.  I could see the balloons and children scurrying. I could hear the sounds of the African drums and chants and see the colorful patches of people clapping and swirling throughout the public area.  With this as my background, I turned to watch the man who did not win, and could not sidestep history.

As I watched, I began to experience the same emotions and pride that I had watching Obama.  One of the aspects of America that has always stood out in my heart is the transition of power from one President to another during an election year. There are no guns in the streets, or tanks firing on Parliament or death squads arising throughout the country setting fire and randomly looting and killing. There is no outcry of corruption and unfairness that turns into bitterness and hate. There is no calling up of the military to suppress mobs or consolidate power. There is simply one man handing power over to another, and Americans going back to their activities and lives in an effort to do what they can to carry on.  

For me, the speech by John McCain captured all of this and more. I began to get emotional as I heard him admit defeat in and of himself, blaming no one else. I heard a man who had served his country in both times of feast and famine and was ready to serve again at whatever cost. I heard a man who recognized the historic event and braced its significance for us individually and as a country.  I saw a man stand taller and speak more fervently than he had for six months.  I felt pride as he invited me to stand with him behind our new President as he had for many years.  I knew that once again, America had demonstrated to the world her uniqueness and why I love her so much.  

My eyes watered and my heart truly pounded as I heard feelings and comments expressed by a man who I had never agreed with more, and who exemplified at this moment in time what each and every American should be doing and can do going forward.  For me, this was a watershed moment as it confirmed my faith in the process and my faith in people and how blessed we are to live in such a nation under God.  For a moment in time, we shine forth to the world as a light, a beacon for how we can be. We stand as a model of emulation, both as a system and as a people.  John McCain spoke to the world more than he spoke to the small crowd in Phoenix.  He declared that America is the best of things and not the worst, and exemplified the hope that his campaign had failed to capture, but had finally embraced.

With a myriad of feelings and emotions coursing through me, I turned again to look out the window wishing that the party would include not just a tribute to Obama, the man who had made history, but also to McCain, a man who was part of that history, and in truth, made it greater than it already was.  I wished I could shout to them that it’s not just about the winning, it’s about the losing, and that the example of the defeated Congressman is truly the heart of what we represent as well.  As with the day before, I felt proud to be an American and proud of men like McCain who hear the call and then rally to support and work towards what our future can be. Truly, this is the beauty of our country and what sets it apart from the world we live in.  God bless America