The election of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States is a groundbreaking and historic event for many reasons, including the election of the first African-American to serve in the highest office of our nation.

While the election has been long and the debates sometimes harsh, President-Elect Obama has committed to drawing Americans together regardless of their party associations, and to reaching out to friends around the world.

As he said in his acceptance speech, “And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of our world - our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand…To those who seek peace and security - we support you.

“And to all those who have wondered if America’s beacon still burns as bright - tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope.”