A mere 145 years ago, the Civil War was raging. A moment that started as something so fragile that you could only whisper it. The very mention of it would cause it to vanish into dust. President-elect Barack Obama has shown every American that this land is filled with opportunity. Anything is possible.
Rewind six months ago to this moment and it would have seemed like a distance dream. In one swoop we showed the world that we are willing to fight for change and strive to be better. We lost the light that shines as a beacon for the rest of the world to follow. That beacon has been restored.
Obama's campaign showed this; he showed that our government forgot to fear it's people and take care of them. He reminded us that our government could help the common man. He wanted to make sure we had food, clean air and jobs. He made sure to take care of the sick and educate our children to compete in a global economy.
Obama articulately pointed out the clear failures of Republican policies that choked the life out of Americans. He demanded the return of our young troops fighting a war that we cannot win.
He will appeal to the world and repair our shot reputation. Obama will restore the rights every American is entitled to. Obama will lead our country forward in the battle against climate change, its real threat and provide the necessary change to develop clean technologies.
The central focus of this election has been the war. But as Super Tuesday crept closer our minds worried about the failure of government to regulate an industry that was infested by a sickness of deregulation.
Fear not, Obama will act with a cool head and stoic demeanor to ease the pain all Americans feel. Obama will move quickly to heal the finances of struggling families, paying college tuition and crushing taxes. The war of the middle class is over.
America grows as the middle class grows and falters. American families will be able to save some of their hard-earned money. Giving a tax break to 95 percent of families will lighten the load.
The campaign started to walk away from the more ugly topic: undocumented workers. Like other sensitive issues, Obama will rally experts to come up with a solution for a nation built on immigrants and refugees.
Millions of Americans are without health insurance, mainly the children of the poor and working poor. While other Americans can hardly pay for their healthcare and are in danger of losing their jobs, they will be defended.
The road will be long and winding but, like our forefathers, we can raise to the challenge. We endured the crash of 1929 and 9/11 and we shall endure our times. It will take innovation and creativity. There is no better place to nurture these ideas.
Martin Luther King, Jr. summed it up best as he said "Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase."
Congratulations on the first step.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
