Maybe I'm one of the youngest people on here (being 16) , maybe I'm not - but I know for a fact that most, if not all, of you have heard of Facebook and maybe you know how it runs.

Well, for those of you who don't know much about this insanely popular (and effective) social networking site - I'll explain real quick what the status feature is.

The status feature is used to let your friends know what you are doing or how you are feeling, it appears under your name to everybody through something called a mini-feed.

Last night, after Sen. Barack Obama was elected, I instantly jumped on my computer - logged onto Facebook and put in my status bar: "CAN'T BELIEVE IT - THERE IS A GOD!! WAY TO GO OBAMA/BIDEN!"

And almost as instantly - I was attacked by one of the most prejudicial, ignorant and idiotic person I have ever had the displeasure of knowing. A former classmate who was known for being a particularly large bigot left a message calling me:

Anti-American
Racist
Ignorant
Liberal Hippie
Waste Of Humanity
Bitch
Hooked Nose Jew
C*nt
N*gger lover
Slimeball
Terrorist Lover
and, last but not least: Socialist

Now, I understand that some Conservatives and Republicans are going to be bitter about the election of Sen. Obama, I expected to be hounded - being one of only a handful of openly liberal and democratic students at my ultra conservative high school in northwest Iowa (that, and after listening to McCain's supporters boo at the mere mention of Sen. Obama's name) - and I have been critized by almost everyone I know (my own family being the harshest and most conservative - although, I did manage to convert THE most conservative of the family into voting for Obama!).

I'm used to it - at least, used to having to defend my politics by peaceful discussion and healthy debate - but what I am not used to is this kind of attack on my own person, my ethics and morals.

He brought up the standard GOP propaganda: that Sen. Obama is a socialist, terrorist loving, anti-American, Muslim who secretly works for Iran and will hand over our country to the Arab nations, tree-hugging moron.

And I corrected him, defending the outstanding character of our new president by merely telling him that Sen. Obama is neither of those things and perhaps he should stop watching Faux News and get caught up with reality.

And then it happened.

He posted it where everyone could see it - and brought in one of his friends to help back him up (although he quickly quieted when I began to point out the flaws of past Republicans that he cited in a couple of his comments).

As a woman, I was offended when he told me that because of my gender I would never succeed in the world and that I didn't have the intellegence to hold my own in anything.

As a democrat, I was offended when he called my politics into question and began making slanderous accusations against the man I support.

But I was most offended as an American, at seeing such unbridled hatred so publicly displayed.

Last night was supposed to be one of the greatest events in American history - change had been made, conservatism had been brought down and the push for freedom, equality and justice for all was again put on the table as the values that America stands for - but this boy, for no one who attacks me in that way can ever be considered a real man, just made me realize just how much we have left to do.

I couldn't believe after these two years that people just couldn't get over their racist and ignorant ways, that they couldn't just keep it to themselves and realize how stupid they sound when they spout off their comments.

I sincerely hope that Sen. Obama will wake up America more than he already has - I want for this country to be enlightened, to gain strength by uniting - forget about sexuality, gender, race, ethnicity or social standing and just stand united, as our founding fathers would have wanted.

Until then, I will continue to defend him - defend my politics and defend my country, with the pride only an American can have.