One year and about six months ago, I stood on that national mall. Without a moment of doubt or regret, I gave that capitol building the finger. It was a pointless and childish act of defiance, the memory of which I still cherish.

But the pictures of the national mall right now, the teeming throngs of hopeful citizens, the energy. Everyone out there looks forward to a new future. And where I was largely alone in my obscene gesturing, these folks are united.

I won’t delude myself into thinking that I was the first to give in to the need to disrespect what was going on, but it did start with someone, somewhere. And look where it’s gotten us.

Of course, where it’s gotten us isn’t as important as where we will go now.