Editor:

Not since one hundred years ago, did we have a turnout as high as that on Nov. 4, 2008. We are experiencing the kind of determined ebullience, united as a nation, as other peak moments when we collectively believed that good was going to prevail over myriad obstacles and that we will manage again to overcome. 

We feel a terribly guarded hope, one which has seen disaster come on the heels of possibility; for while we know historic changes can occur, we also understand that there is a dangerous undercurrent of resentment, anger and hostility abroad in our land, looking for an outlet and a place to vent its hatred. Who better to blame than the self-purported agent of change? 

Our national nightmare continues to be that our hope will be assassinated, as we contemplate the holes out of which we must now dig ourselves. We need to try again to trust our leadership even while we have the recent memories of severe betrayals.

We must give this man a chance. We must let him try. He is our country now, he represents us in our desire for a better solution for our current woes, our internal problems and the consequences of our bad choices. He carries us all and we know he’s going to need us backing him, to get to work and save our country from its terrible excesses. If it works it will be due to our work together.

Artists can now revive from their stupors of sadness, dare to go out into the world of their ideals, dare to show love visibly in their art. The young can dream dreams, the old men can see visions. Women can believe in the future they produce and nurture in their wombs and in their maturing children. We can come together again to believe in the power of hope. 

This election, I ran for the U.S. Senate to fight against the corporate powers that work to overcome the people, and I supported Ralph Nader’s independent run for president. I lost; so did Nader and so did the hopes of many for change, which more closely represented their choices. However, like all other Americans who voted, I believe that I was working to make a better country and because of that belief, I share also in this victory. I think what we celebrate today is the belief that as Americans, we can feel that our birthright as owners of a country which still has a national identity which must be forged new every day. In that daily work, to reforge our country we reforge ourselves in the fire of transformation. We can all become better together. We can participate in the vitality of life at its most inspiring. We can join our fellow men and we can make this work.

Let’s keep with Obama: let us keep on him. Let’s help him out and also let’s keep him in check. Let’s make him the best president ever.

Laurie Dobson

Kennebunkport