Yesterday, history was made. A nation held its breath as Barack Obama placed his hand on the Bible and took the Oath of Office. Just a day after the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, and 46 years after Martin's I Have a Dream Speech, the dream was realized.
The weight of history and the spirit of change is in the air. The emotion and the pride of a country is pulsing wildly through its veins. Just watching it on television, you could feel the positive energy radiating through the screen. It would be a shame if we were to just let all that good feeling dissipate. So, while we still have this momentum, while the dream has been rekindled and while history continues to be made, my challenge to you is to make your own history. As Gandhi said, "Be the change you want to see in the world.
Be the first person in your family to purchase a home or get out of debt. Inspire your children to get their education (hopefully Obama can make doing well in school cool).
Be the person who stands up and says "No" to the status quo and business as usual. Demand better for yourself and those around you and accept nothing less.
Be the person who greets people with a smile and treats others with respect, patience and empathy. Be the one who speaks with honesty and love.
Be the one that will end the cycle of abuse and low expectations. Be the one that ends the revolving door of prison, poverty and parental neglect.
Be the one that finds beauty in the mirror and warmth in your own embrace.
Be the one that reaches for the stars.
The weight of history and the spirit of change is in the air. The emotion and the pride of a country is pulsing wildly through its veins. Just watching it on television, you could feel the positive energy radiating through the screen. It would be a shame if we were to just let all that good feeling dissipate. So, while we still have this momentum, while the dream has been rekindled and while history continues to be made, my challenge to you is to make your own history. As Gandhi said, "Be the change you want to see in the world.
Be the first person in your family to purchase a home or get out of debt. Inspire your children to get their education (hopefully Obama can make doing well in school cool).
Be the person who stands up and says "No" to the status quo and business as usual. Demand better for yourself and those around you and accept nothing less.
Be the person who greets people with a smile and treats others with respect, patience and empathy. Be the one who speaks with honesty and love.
Be the one that will end the cycle of abuse and low expectations. Be the one that ends the revolving door of prison, poverty and parental neglect.
Be the one that finds beauty in the mirror and warmth in your own embrace.
Be the one that reaches for the stars.
Very well said. Very well indeed.
ReplyDeleteWhatever happened to the young man who was bothering and disrespecting you? I wish he gets touched by the positive energy that engulfing the US.
ReplyDeleteHe hasn't been around. And that's a good thing. I'm still keeping my eyes out for him.
ReplyDeleteGreat blog. Obama's success should certainly inspire us all to believe anything possible.
ReplyDeleteThis may shock you but I am not sold on this election and the alleged post racial era. Does anyone think he would have won the election if he looked like Don Cheadle? The fact that he is a light skinned/bi-racial black man had everything to do with his election. How will people feel if he loses the next election and all the hype goes away?
ReplyDeleteIt isn't so much about Obama the politician as much as it is about what he represents. If people really feel like they want change, and are ready to make changes then this could be a good thing. If people are going to sit on their behinds and wait for change or expect Obama to do it all, then there are going to be a whole lot of very rude awakenings.
ReplyDelete