Here comes the sun

(Image taken from CNN.com)

The sun is shining today. Both metaphorically and literally. Indeed, after a few Copenhagen-like days, today the sun has returned to Bologna. The day is really splendid. There a few clouds, of course, but the fact that you can see some different perspectives can inspire you, and perhaps make your day. Also metaphorically the sun is shining today, after Barack Husein's clear victory last night. I think this is a so desired day for many people in the world; I would even dare to say that the enthusiasm outside the US is as big as it is today for more than 62 million people in the US.

Of course, just because today there's a shining sun it doesn't mean that there will be no more clouds around. After seeing both speeches last night this is even more certain. The speech by Obama was clear and inspiring, and at the same time, it was a statement of the huge challenges to come. I enjoyed the honesty in his words. But rather than digging on Obama's address, it is perhaps more insightful to pay attention to McCain's speech. I would like to comment on two particular moments.

First, when he opened his intervention mentioning Obama and the fact he had conceded him the presidency, McCain supporters started to boo Obama in several times. They interrupted McCain, who disapproved such a reaction. In my view, the face expression of McCain in that precise moment is priceless: it is a clear, authentic sign of disgust. Perhaps only in that instant, when hearing such an overwhelming negative reaction against the president-elect, John McCain realized the monster he had created by appealing to one of the most aggressive and nasty political campaigns in history.

The second moment that I find remarkable in McCain's speech is when he mentions Sarah Palin as the future driving force of the republican party. That lady certainly attracted a number of people who believe in conservative policies. The reaction to Palin's mention is almost the opposite to Obama's. Unfortunately, this campaign has put Palin in the top places of the political scenario in the US, and I am sure she will be the face behind powerful right-wing sectors interested in a new conservative agenda post-Obama.

Once again appealing to my weather metaphor, it is clearly a relief that the most influential person in the world is someone who not only can express himself properly, but that can bring inspiration to others in times of difficulty. Also, the fact that his vice-president is familiar with foreign policy issues (and that speaks his mind when he feels like doing so) is a killer combination. We should try to enjoy this sun while we can. We should also remember that even in the most splendid of the suns there are those little gray clouds that stand there. There will be always radical people like Sarah Palin that will play hard, not only against people like Barack Obama, but also against any manifestation of common sense. To conclude, let me provide a compelling example of this. According to Palin and her supporters, global warming is not man-made. I am sure that most of them would agree with Tina Fey on the fact that global warming is "just God hugging us closely".