they are waving american flags in berlin.
they are standing and cheering and making an american politician smile with native kenyan shout outs.
they are clapping and standing, when for so long they screamed obscenities and burned our national symbol and wondered what kind of fools could elect leaders too terrified and small minded to see that our shore touches an ocean that leads to another shore on which they all live.
they are photographing a man who looks more like them (AND LIKE US) then any other american politician that they have ever seen or heard.
they are waiting for hours to witness our great moment to come, the moment when we finally shed the mantle of being the last great nation led by ONLY and EVER old, white, rich men.
they are seeing the very best that we have to offer, instead of a once great power gripping tightly to its past and throwing desperate punches like a drunk who has just realized he scares NO ONE any more.
they are 200,000 strong, maybe more.
they are, for today, "with us" not "a'gin us".
they are walking home together asking "do you think?" and "could it really?" and "who would have thought?" and "is this really happening?" and, probably, "oh, I wish I could be there when...".
they are our partners as they have not been since the middle of september 2001... as they could have been with us for days and weeks and years going forth... as they might once be with us again to fight the battles that have been thrust upon all the citizens of this big blue marble.
they are waving american flags in berlin and for the first time in a long, long time I am proud to be a citizen represented by and governed under those glorious stars and stripes.