It's funny.  Amidst all of the celebrations around the country (almost identical to the celebration of the evil Empire's defeat in the old Star Wars trilogy), the tears of happiness from those "objective journalists" on ABC (I'll let it slide just this once, but starting Monday I'll expect some unbiased journalism), and some late night post-election "analysis," I was more focused on something that seems to have coasted under the radar and into the vaults of forgotten rubbish.

No, it wasn't Michelle Obama's horrifying dress (I guess she really is revolutionizing the fashion world after all), nor was it Bill Kristol's inability to look into the camera after Fox News announced that Obama had won.  It wasn't even the bullet-proof encasement of Obama's podium.

I should say that this election was historic.  Even though I did not support Obama and I am not a fan of "doin' it for the sake of history," I am proud of my generation for turning out in staggeringly great numbers to vote and their openness to racial diversity.  It's something that this country has been waiting to prove for a decade or so, and I'm at least content that the likes of Jesse Jackson and citizens around the world can no longer paint America as a racist nation.

I congratulate President-Elect Barack Obama for his excellent campaign and victory and, as I did with George W. Bush in 2000, even though he wasn't among my top 5 choices for the job, I will give him the benefit of the doubt because our country hangs in the balance.

Having said that, what is it that most people probably missed?  The choice of music accompanying the speeches of the two candidates Tuesday night.

John McCain's concession speech was followed by the main theme of the movie Crimson Tide.  For those who haven't seen it, Crimson Tide is the (fictional) story of a white, 60+ year old nuclear submarine captain (Gene Hackman) who selects, as is second in command, a young, black naval officer (Denzel Washington).  Hackman and Washington quarrel over whether to launch their nuclear weapons after an emergency action message from the Pentagon is unable to be received.

Mutinies ensue between the experienced but trigger-happy captain who wants to launch the missiles the college educated but clear-headed Washington who wants to return to the surface to receive the entire message from Command.  Long story short, they return to the surface and it was a good thing that Washington was around to stop a nuclear holocaust.

Sound familiar?  Well, I wouldn't say that McCain is trigger-happy, but it is an ominous choice to end his campaign with the theme song that carries Hackman's character into "early retirement" and leaves Washington's character to "assume command."

I don't know.  Maybe McCain just likes Hans Zimmer soundtracks.  Or maybe he actually feels like Gene Hackman's character, an old white war hero who recognizes at last that it's time to go and leave the business to a new generation.

What about Barack Obama's music?  Well, I don't know the exact title, but it is the theme song for "The Patriot" (Mel Gibson) and several History Channel shows related to the American Revolution.  Both candidates' songs are a symbol of moving forward and the start of a new chapter.

For either candidate (and even for the Republicans who lost their Congressional seats), perhaps "The Times They Are A-Changin'" by Bob Dylan would have been more appropriate:

Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside
And it is ragin'
It'll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'

Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don't criticize
What you can't understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin'
Please get out of the new one
If you can't lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin'