- Image by m-c via Flickr
Like many others in the country, I was glued to the television on Tuesday morning watching the historical moment of President Obama’s inauguration as the 44th president. Viewing the crowd in DC, awaiting this significant moment in the history of our nation, I felt overwhelmed with emotion: joy for the badly needed shift in leadership, pride in the spirit of our people, and a sense of connectedness to the strangers on the screen.
If felt amazing to notice this ritualistic tradition, honoring the ancestors in our culture and what it represents today. America, which has been build on the blood and sweat of all our ancestors, no matter the color of skin or belief in a different god. But for me, the most powerful feeling was the overwhelming anticipation of what’s coming.
Now I may be an Obama supporter at heart, but I’m not delusional to his abilities. I don’t believe that he’s a miracle worker and can heal our nation with a twirl of his wand. The place of crisis where we have found ourselves lately may have been pushed forward by the administration of the past 8 yrs., but has been in the making for many years prior to the Bush/Cheney leadership. The “it’s all about me” philosophy that has contributed to the destruction of cultures and killed the spirit of many people has laid the foundation for where we are today. In the words of President Obama, the current climate is due to our collective failure to make difficult choices and prepare for a new age.
This historical moment makes me aware of my own piece of the puzzle: how have I contributed to the state of our people? Have I been greedy, selfish and living in my own bubble? Have I made decisions, conscious or not, that have fueled our foreign dependence on oil? Did I question the unethical business practices of the CEO who paid my salary? Or did I look the other way as the government continued to use our resources for violence and hatred? Have I been indifferent to the suffering outside of my personal borders?
Dr. Martin Luther King stated in his famous I Have a Dream Speech: “It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment”. How seemingly it fits with where America stands today. This is no time to allow our complacency to take over and wait for the new administration to make a difference. We must all exemplify the leadership we wish to see in DC. In the words of Mahatma Gandhi, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”
How are you changing with the times? What role are you playing in this call to unite humanity?
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Tags: Barack Obama, culture, Inauguration, United States
You have been a role model for others. You have never lost sight of people that are not as well off as you.
But I think you and likeminded people are called to spread out the word even more. This is a challenge for each one of us. We all need to be more outspoken.
But if this is our big theme for the next years we will do amazing things. When Kennedy announced we'd make it to the moon within 10 years we did it.
This effort has an even bigger magnitude. But I think we'll watch each other's back and can change as individuals and as a society. I know you'll do your part.
You are correct in that Obama is not a miracle worker and to come in and change 8 years of messiness will take more than Obama and his administration. We all have to do our part and it starts with each of us – STEPPING UP and STEPPING OUT. Even if your going through your own hard times there are things you can do without spending any money – just some of your time. Let's SPREAD the WORD! I know I can make a difference. Thank you for sharing this!
Thanks Klaus and Michelle for taking the time to read and give your feedback. You're both absolutely right. It's up to each one of us to spread the word!
The question you ask, "Have I been indifferent to the suffering outside my personal borders?" is a great one – I like that you add the word 'personal' because it sends home the message Obama was trying for. When he says "nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it" it gave me so much hope, because we have a leader who recognizes our ultimate connectedness – that we can't go on living and consuming as if we are not one family, sharing one home together. Bravo! I am so happy and proud of our country for electing this man!
I agree with you Jen. We finally have a leader who does recognize how we are all one. I, too am proud of our country. Thanks for reading and offering your feedback.
It's thrilling to notice this kind of conversation cropping up more often. For those who have been hardworking volunteers, or in health, social services, or other helping professions (not to mention Moms), the to-do list may not change much. For the rest of us — I've probably been more individualistic, if not more selfish, than most middle-class Americans — the transition may not be so clear. What to do? How to step out of the me-centered universe? What cause? Where to focus?
The mere fact that you're asking these questions and engaging in conversation is a tremendous step in the right direction. It takes intention and small changes to create a major shift. I'd like to think of the ripple effect caused by a small pebble in a big pool of water. Thanks for your feedback!
You are right President Obama is not a miracle worker. The thing I love about President Obama is that he includes EVERYONE. We all need each other to succeed in this world. When people decided to set their own agenda and watch out only for themselves (i.e. Bush administration, collapse of Wall Street, etc.), we will always find ourselves in our current situation. I am so proud that the world will finally be able to see the real Amercian leadership at work through President Obama. Hail to the Chief!
You said it! I think we finally have a leader that can absolutely be an inspirational in the world and create the global shift we so badly need. Thank you for reading and offering your feedback!