The first day of the Democratic National Convention took place today with a number of different speakers taking the podium. The two most prominent speakers were Senator Ted Kennedy, the lion of the Senate, and Barack Obama’s wife, Michelle Obama.

With the knowledge that Ted Kennedy has been diagnosed with brain cancer, it is likely that this will be his last convention. He made it a point in his speech that he would see to it that he will be in the Senate in January to pass universal health care legislation with Barack Obama as president. Tonight, Ted rhetorically passed on the torch to the next generation. This was Ted Kennedy at his finest.

Michelle Obama had an equally moving speech. Her job was to dispel the many nasty rumors that have been spread about her and her husband. Not only did she show that the Obamas are a far more normal American family than the McCains, having been raised in a middle class family and earning their way through school, she showed her love of both her family and of her country.

At the end of the night the audience was emotionally spent. I’ll be the first to admit that I shed a tear hearing Ted Kennedy speak, knowing it may be the last time we see him again. The Kennedys have perhaps sacrificed more than any other family. Ted has lost three brothers in his lifetime – one to the Nazis and two to political assassination. Now he finds himself in a battle for his life. We are with you Ted.

This is more than about individual people, though. This election is about the idea of a better tomorrow. It is about conquering fear with the hope that our country can be a better place if we actually try. Settling for more of the same is not going to cut it. These times require more from us. The torch has been passed. Let’s not pass it backwards.