Thrilled, skeptical, tired

In 1963, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Now, more than 45 years later, a black man, Barack Obama, has been elected president of the United States of America.

This has been the greatest victory of fairness over bigotry, of wisdom over ignorance and of courage over fear this country has seen in my 84 years. Our country put aside hundreds of years of racism to elect a man who, through his vision, intellect and resolve, moved a nation to see itself as a melting pot of humanity.

“Free at last, free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”

Bill Livingstone

Santa Barbara

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I am thrilled, excited, hopeful and joyous about Obama becoming the 44th president of the United States.

I don’t believe that Obama walks on water, but I do believe that he is an extremely intelligent man who has risen to his position through innate intelligence and a wonderful education.

I’m also excited about Michelle Obama becoming first lady.

I’m almost 80 and am very grateful that this is happening in my lifetime.

Roberta M. Blank

Los Angeles

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As a Los Angeles expat living in South America, I’m reminded often that the United States’ image abroad is largely negative because of George W. Bush’s cowboy diplomacy. But last weekend at my local fair, I saw that the usual rude anti-Bush T-shirts for sale had all been replaced by bright new positive Obama T-shirts.

I’m full of hope and proud to be American!

Marshal Phillips

Curitiba, Parana, Brazil

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Today there will be tears -- dribbles and floods, buckets, gallons, acre-feet and whatever the next biggest liquid measurement is. We will all cry. There will be an international, interracial water-letting, the greatest since God opened the heavens to kill the critters.

Why? What does it all mean? I just don’t know.

For millions, Obama’s election signals some new dawn in the hearts of men. Bless all those kind hearts and little minds. Bless America’s entire and entirely confused crew, this motley tapestry of souls hopeful and hanging breathless.

And bless me too, as I leak and wipe, get snot on my sleeves and tissues on the floor. Bless me because I am a little afraid to give up the anger -- yet I am not equipped to open the curtain on hope. Bless me because I don’t have a picture of the future of my country or an understanding of what is happening inside me. Today I’ll cry and be one with the world, and that is truly weird.

Jeffrey Bruce

Los Angeles