Another long and contentious election has played out in America, and fortunately it went pretty smoothly. Issues at the polls were few and far between, and the result was clear-cut and decisive. Voter registration saw tremendous gains, and more Americans than ever came together to exercise their right to vote. There is much that both sides of the aisle can jointly celebrate in this election.

As a conservative, I would have liked to see Senator McCain ascend to the presidency in lieu of Senator Obama. Of course, Obama’s victory comes as no surprise. Like many others in this country, I knew that McCain did not have a great chance of victory. I certainly hoped for it, but as I expected, Obama won. It was no landslide, but it was clearly a solid victory for Obama.

Where does this leave a conservative like me? Certainly I am disappointed, but like McCain, I prefer not to lament the outcome but instead look forward. Senator Obama won fair and square, and he will be my president. I do not agree with his politics, but he has been elected as the leader of my country. As such, I will afford him the respect that the office of the president deserves. There is no point in being a sore loser about it.

Beyond that, there is still plenty for me to be excited about with Obama’s victory. As much as I don’t like his politics, I am truly thrilled at the fact that America has come to the point where an African American can ascend to the highest office in the land. For decades, America has been claiming that we offer equality to everyone while not actually making good on that ideal. While Obama’s election will not instantly fix the significant race issues that remain, it’s a tremendous step in the right direction for this country.

I’m excited that this is happening when I am still young. This election proves that one doesn’t have to be a white male in order to win a presidential election. Obama’s victory opens the door not only to other African Americans, but to anyone of any race or gender. I hope that that everyone recognizes that anyone, no matter their race, can win an election in this country. Furthermore, I hope that people who otherwise believed that they could not rise very high in politics will now consider their true potential for service to our country. I look forward to decades of new ideas and new candidates who previously may not have considered going into politics.

What makes me even happier in some respects is that I’m not alone in these thoughts. In the days since the election, I have had a variety of conversations with several other conservatives, and we all seem to agree. While disappointed in Obama’s victory over McCain, we are excited for the new chapter in history.

I have sensed a unified sentiment that America is moving in the right direction. There is a near universal happiness at the deeper victory for African Americans and almost universal respect for our president-elect.

So how do conservatives like me move forward with a disappointing election result? First, we celebrate the end of an election. I think everyone is doing that—who enjoys campaign advertising?

Second, we take the lead from McCain’s dignified concession speech and strive to show Obama respect and reunite under a new presidency. The country’s fractures need to be healed before any real progress is made.

Third, we celebrate the victory that America has won. Liberals may have won the presidency, but America won a victory in battles that have been raging for centuries. While this does not mean that conservatives will not be critical of Obama over the next four years, it certainly means that we will afford him the respect that he deserves. I know that I am not the lone conservative saying the following words: Congratulations, Mr. Obama.