Today I was brought to tears watching crowds of people cheering, shouting, smiling: reading countless blog posts that all contained the words 'hope' and 'liberty'.

Obama's victory speech was one of the most beautiful I have ever heard. Whilst I was listening to his words the world seemed a better place - the sun seemed brighter - I truly believe that this great man can rebuild the damage caused by the last eight years of, well, total foolishness.

McCain is an incredible senator and would have been a good president perhaps in other circumstances, but unfortunately he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. America does not need him. Rather it needs a president who will bring change and freedom; will bring their soldiers back from Iraq; will be decisive regarding the economic crisis and climate change; and most importantly fight for the neglected rights of its people.

It's wonderful just to know that the human race is not a lost cause.

America has effectively dispelled the undeserved hate so many feel for it nowadays, and proved to the rest of world that it really is full of intelligent, hopeful, kind people who can vote for candidates other than just George W. Bush. I for one am certain that they have chosen the right president: never mind man or woman, black or white, Democrat or Republican.

One of the best blogs I read was by an extremely wonderful man, best known as a film critic, called Roger Ebert. A reader left a comment saying that they voted for Obama not because they agreed with all of his policies, but because when he watched him with his two little girls he saw a kind, gentle, good-humoured man.

And lordy, isn't that what it's all about? The president of the United States may be clever, grounded, confident and all the rest of it - but if he's not a good person deep inside then everything else means nothing at all. I think we can all learn a lesson from that message.

November the 5th 2008 is a bittersweet day; a day that will be forever remembered as historic and groundbreaking. Not only has the first ever black American president been elected, but he truly has the potential to pave a new and golden path for the land of the free - a path that has been neglected for so very long.

I do not come from the USA. Heck, I've never even been there on holiday. But I know Obama's beliefs and his will - his determination to do what is right - has the ability to touch people, as interconnected human beings, regardless of the country they live in or the party politics they agree with. For perhaps the first time in my life, I feel able and willing to say the words 'God bless America'.

Yes, we can.