today was certainly one of the great days in my life. it has much of the same feelings of hope, relief and validation that i felt when Madiba walked from his prison to lead a nation to change.

today americans redeemed their great country in the eyes of the world. today a great man compells great hope and trust in americans and humanity.

today reason and hope triumphed over ignorance and fear.

today you can be proud.

may tomorrow be everything we hope for.

Anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela congratulated US president elect Barack Obama on his victory on Wednesday, saying he was an inspiration to people all over the world.

"Your victory has demonstrated that no person anywhere in the world should not dare to dream of wanting to change the world for a better place," Mandela said in a letter to Obama.

"We note and applaud your commitment to supporting the cause of peace and security around the world. We trust that you will also make it the mission of your presidency to combat the scourge of poverty and disease everywhere.

"We wish you strength and fortitude in the challenging days and years that lie ahead. We are sure you will ultimately achieve your dream making the United States of America a full partner in a community of nations committed to peace and prosperity for all," said Mandela.

from here

Evolution.

but it is important to note that a scientific theory - like evolution - is not merely an opinion. Like gravity, evolution is fact and theory, and a scientific theory is:

"a well supported body of interconnected statements that explains observations and can be used to make testable predictions."

"Scientific theories describe the coherent framework into which observable data fit. The scientific definition of the word "theory" is different from the colloquial sense of the word. Colloquially, "theory" can mean a conjecture, an opinion, or a speculation that does not have to be based on facts or make testable predictions. In science, the meaning of theory is more rigorous: a theory must be based on observed facts and make testable predictions."

"In science, a current theory is a theory that has no equally acceptable alternative theory, and has survived attempts at falsification. That is, there have been no observations made which contradict it to this point and, indeed, every observation ever made either supports the current theory or at least does not falsify it. A revision of the current theory, or the generation of a new theory is necessary if new observations contradict the current theory, as the current findings are in need of a new explanation (see scientific revolution or paradigm shift). However, the falsification of a theory does not falsify the facts on which the theory is based."

all quoted from here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolution_as_theory_and_fact