Hope in Ohio

Here's a terrific story of hope, citizenship and patriotism in Ohio courtesy of Connie Schultz at the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Of all the people Dobay met that day, though, there is one man she said she will never, ever forget.

He is an immigrant from Senegal. When she asked his name, he handed her an official-looking document.

Dobay studied the piece of paper, and then it hit her.

"You just became a citizen this morning," she said.

He nodded and smiled.

She congratulated him, and so did her colleagues sitting on either side of her. With each congratulations, the man smiled and said, "Thank you."

A few moments later, Dobay excitedly shared the news with another election official, Irene Lange.

"It was too good to keep to myself," Lange told me later.

She turned to the 100 or so voters in the diverse crowd and announced that the man with the big grin on his face had become an American citizen just that morning and was already registered to vote.

The room erupted into cheers.

"So many came forward to shake his hand," Dobay said. "I get goose bumps just thinking about it."

Nobody knew what country he came from.

Nobody knew how he would cast his vote, either.

And nobody cared.

For just a moment, all anyone cared about was the chance to welcome a new American who is full of hope.