An election the world has noticed

John Lindner Albemarle County
Published: November 11, 2008

America won a great victory on Election Day. I’m not referring to the winning candidate as much as to the winning process.

There were no assassinations, no riots. President Bush did not roll out the National Guard to shoot the opponents. No ballot boxes were confiscated or destroyed. Nor was there any report of fraudulent voting or rigged balloting, despite recent questionable alleged voter registration irregularities by ACORN. Such tactics weren’t needed. The voice of the people was loud and clear.

And the world noticed. “A recent BBC poll found that people in all 22 nations surveyed preferred Obama by a wide margin to Republican John McCain,” the Washington Post reported Wednesday. Many spokespersons from countries around the world said the election of a black man to the White House proved that in America, “all men are created equal,” and that America indeed is a true democracy. The election lifted the hopes of people of all nations and races. Even Iran and Arab nations sent congratulations.

Let the nations take note: This is how great democracies operate. We settle our differences at the ballot box, not with guns. Instead of gunning down the winner, President Bush invited Obama to the White House to congratulate him and pledge his cooperation in working out a transition. It’s nation above personal ambition. And the so-called losers are still winners: They will continue to enjoy the good life.

Take note, Mr. Mugabe in Zimbabwe. Look at us, Mr. Kibaki and Mr. Odinga in Kenya. Read it, General Nkunda and P.M. Muzito in Congo. Hear this, P.M. Singh in India. Soak it up, you Junta members in Burma. Get an eyeful, Mr. Hu in China. Take hope, people of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq. You don’t have to fear change.

This is the way it’s done. Look at us.