Despite running one of the worst negative election campaigns, his opponent conceded his defeat graciously as soon as the Western States close their poll on November 4. The victory was a forgone conclusion as soon as the voting began even though the skeptics wanted people to believe that it would be a very close contest. In a way, it was neither the victory for Obama nor a defeat for McCain individually. It was a victory of people over the elitist establishment, new over the old, fear over hope and peace and harmony over hatred and bigotry.

It was a defeat for those who wanted America to question the patriotism of fellow Americans who may have the name Hussein.

It was a mandate against those who wanted some Americans to rule others with intimidation. It was a rejection of the policy of those who always wanted big businesses to succeed at the cost of the poor and the needy and it was a revolt against those who wanted America to fear their fellow Muslims.

A great majority of Americans spoke with one voice against the politics of division, negativity, bigotry, hatred and intimidation.

The victory for Obama was secured by those ordinary men and women who not only donated $6.00 to $25.00 to the Democratic Party campaign, but who also came out in streets knocking on doors for a new change they were seeking for their country.

It was a powerful revolt against the Bushes, McCains, Chenys and Palins who were seen as the symbol of bigotry, and hatred. Perhaps it was appropriate for many in the country to celebrate November 5, 2008 as a day of deliverance. Indeed many were thankful to God for delivering them from the eight dark years of Bush and Republican era.

During the last few weeks of the campaign, the old establishment of the Republican Party tried to use every possible trick to galvanize its ranks and file. Not surprisingly, they used Islam and Muslims as the greatest danger the Christian world has faced since the end of the crusades.

Under the stewardship of some Republican religious right wing leaders, an anti Muslim campaign was launched with the distribution of the DVD Obsession to more than 25 million Americans. Many Churches leaders were recruited to project Islam as a religion of violence and Muslims as anti-Christians.

Regular insults were hurled at the divine Scriptures in many churches and Muslims were question for their patriotism. Whatever was done during the last two weeks of the McCain campaign was built on a policy of intimidation during the last seven and half years of Bush-Cheney Administration.

The most notoriously fear-mongering Administration in American history tried its best to project Islam as the new enemy. Terms such as Islamo-Fascism and Muslim Nazis were coined. Some in the law enforcement agencies were given full freedom to use their powers to question, investigate, detain and deport people arbitrarily.

During the last seven years, thousands of Muslims have been declared as suspects and potential terrorists. Mosques have been regularly monitored and thousands of passengers bearing Muslim names have been harassed at airports for visiting countries such as Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, or Malaysia.

Radio Talk show hosts who wanted another four years of the Republican rule, used every possible opportunity to spread poison against Islam and Muslims. They suggested that Muslims be put in concentration camps and they incited average Americans against those who were Muslims or followers of Islam.

But people on November 4, 2004 rejected the politics of fear and deception. They shocked the old establishment by demonstrating clearly that they were wise enough to reject the tired old politics.

It is this victory that one must celebrate and in more than one sense, it is a celebration for the end of a n era of bigotry. Obama represents the symbol of that new era politics. Not only Muslim Americans but all those who felt that their dignity and honor was constantly challenged during the last eight years of the Republican era must find comfort in the fact that the overwhelming majority of the country rejected the messengers of doom and gloom and by declaring it through the ballots that America would not allow bigots and hate mongers to prevail.