The President of the Free World - A North American perspective

As Barak Obama takes his oath of office this morning, the world is watching. 

Being Canadian, but having lived my formative years growing up outside of Detroit in the turbulent 1960's, I realize that when the US elects their President, they elect the Leader of the "free" world.  He, (or maybe soon, she) becomes the most powerful leader on "our side".  I'm thrilled and honoured* to still say, and trust that we will always say - "our side". 

I have many, many dear American friends (although it is often pointed out that, being North American, we Canadians are "American" too) and much of my family is American.  I have traveled across both of our great countries and always been a bit of a history nut.  I think that I am least slightly qualified to say -

Thank you from the "Free World" on electing a man of vision! 

At a time such as this, not just the Free World but the WHOLE world needs leaders of vision and integrity.  Not long ago, but before Barak Obama became a front runner in the election process, I read his book "The Audacity of Hope".  My thought after reading it was "Why can't we elect people like this to run our world?"  I was left wondering whatever happened to "We have nothing to fear but fear itself!" and "Ask not what your country can do for you!" - THAT IS LEADERSHIP!

I didn't believe it was possible that someone who could write that book could ever be elected President of The United States of America!

Thank you for having the audacity to elect Barak Obama! 

God bless America.  God bless your new President.  (and in the words of Tiny Tim) God bless us, everyone!

*(That's "honored" for my American friends =-)