I finally got the opportunity to watch Hillary Clinton’s full concession speech.   Sure I’d seen bits and pieces, heard the main clips, but when I watched the entire thing all I could do was sit back in awe.   

Imagine working your entire adult life toward something, becoming a lawyer, being the first lady of Arkansas, being the first lady of the United States, a Senator, a Secretary of State… imagine living through some dark times with your husband, being attacked over and over and over and over, but coming back strong each time.  Then imagine after all that work, all that experience that the opponent put before you is a woefully unprepared, narcissist who turns the election to the office you, hold most dear and have the highest respect for to a reality show farce to placate his ego, a person who can’t even figure out when to get out of the tanning bed, and you lose.  

How do you come out and make this speech?   How do you attempt to smooth over the transition, make us feel better about the election results and give little girls encouragement and hope for the future.  How did she do that?   I’d be in the fetal position if I were attacked incessantly as she has been for year. 

She did it with unbelievable strength.  I sat back and just awed at possibly the most impressive person to ever run for President.  Bravo, Hillary.   You show us the class, dignity and strength we’ll all need to live through the next part of history.   Thank you, Madame.  Thank you…  

Our campaign was never about one person, or even one election. It was about the country we love and building an America that is hopeful, inclusive, and big-hearted. We have seen that our nation is more deeply divided than we thought. But I still believe in America, and I always will. And if you do, then we must accept this result and then look to the future. Donald Trump is going to be our president. We owe him an open mind and the chance to lead. Our constitutional democracy enshrines the peaceful transfer of power.

We don’t just respect that. We cherish it. It also enshrines the rule of law; the principle we are all equal in rights and dignity; freedom of worship and expression. We respect and cherish these values, too, and we must defend them.

And to all of the little girls who are watching this, never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world to pursue and achieve your own dreams.

Never stop believing that fighting for what’s right is worth it