There was a picture tonight from Grant Park that was particularly meaningful to me. It was a picture of a little girl sitting on her Daddy's shoulders, waving a flag.

When I was about her age, an African-American family tried to move into our town. A suburb right outside of Chicago. Some people got so riled up, they physically pushed the family's furniture out of a second story window and set it on fire. My father took me to see, ignoring my mother's arguments. There was a crowd there, so he put me on his shoulders to give me a good view. I remember being afraid for those people. I remember the woman crying. And I cried.

Then my father said, "I want you to see this because I don't ever, EVER want you to treat another human being like this because of the color of their skin." That image was burned into my mind forever. It was a tall lesson at a very young age, but I learned it well.

When I saw that little girl on her father's shoulders tonight, smiling, looking with wonder and joy, I thought -- Wow, she's in a better world than I came from. I felt such joy for her. And I felt so proud of our country tonight. God has blessed America, but I'll ask again. May God Bless America and President-Elect Obama.

This is a beautiful story and wonderfully written. Thank you for sharing! God Bless your father as well!

Chels, you father sounds alike like mine. Thank you for sharing your story. We have witnessed a truly amazing event in our history. I have always been proud to be an American but I don't think I have ever been prouder. Now the work really begins to get our Country on the road to recovery. Good Luck Barrack!!!

I am glad to see that barrier broken and proud also that two women went as far in the race as they did. I was happy years ago to see John Kennedy, a Catholic, assume leadership. New times are on us. Proud to be an American.

That is a great story, I sent the link to several people I know to share it with them and their children. I was raised by the original "Archie Bunker" and I knew I could never go along with that kind of thinking. I tried to teach my children differently.