My roommate Trevor has been watching HBO’s Rome. It’s about Julius Caesar dismantling the Republic and becoming Emperor. We’ve seen similar demonstrations: countries whose military might is constantly fighting over who is in control. But I don’t think that’s what is going to happen on Tuesday.

I’m not a “proud to be an American” kind of guy. Don’t get me wrong, it’s just that my kingdom is not of this world. But some things do make me proud, like that fact that trough 44 presidents and over 200 years of history America history we have had one successful transition of power after another.

It’s easy to look back at Obama’s election and feel like it’s inevitable. But think about where what’s really happening: We’re going from 8 years of Republican rule to a Democratic president; From the man who rode into DC on the backs of the Religious Right, to the man who created a new generation of liberals. Then there’s the little part of being the first Black president in American history.

What we’re talking about here is PARADIGM shift.

On Tuesday, it will happen–peacefully. There will be parties. Police might even get called in. But I think we can count on it being generally peaceful. The fact that the Americans can go through a total paradigm shift, and do it without shedding blood, makes me proud to be an American.