The Inauguration - My Thoughts

What an amazing event. I thought I would write a bit to leave for posterity my feelings and thoughts on this day. It is overwhelmingly patriotic as you look out over the Mall and see the sea of people braving the cold. It is truly moving to see the excitement on faces of Americans knowing the importance of this event.

This past week whether you are Republican, Democratic, Libertarian or any thing else you must be aware of the significance of the event in a country where race has been the center of politics since it was founded. I am moved that race is taking a back seat and people realizing that people are just people no matter their race or ethnicity. As a student of history and a veracious reader of the past of our country, it is truly astounding the strides our country has made in the past 60 years.

I am reminded of a story I heard this week about my friend's son whose best friend is a little african american girl (they are both 7 years old). They had watched a video about Martin Luther King Jr. and at the end both were in tears. When asked why they were so upset they replied that they were glad they were not alive back then as they would not have been allowed to be friends. It crushed them both to think that just because of the color of their skin (which they don't even notice) they could not even talk with each other. The realization that this happened in the past left them stunned and at the same time grateful to be able to have their friendship today.

In addition, my niece who realized that my parents were alive during the time of Martin Luther King Jr. as was amazed to think that people she knows lived in a time when race was such a dividing factor.

Obama being President is truly an historic event. I am hopeful that this day and his presidency will lead us further toward making us truly a colorless society. That we respect our differences rather than use the as labels and a means to alienate each other. I am grateful to be living in a country that moves forward.

Tears will come to my eyes as Mr. Obama takes the oath as this is a new chapter in our country. It is an amazing event and I am happy that I am proud to be an American. Our country is not perfect but it does allow many opportunities and we have so much to be proud of. From our humble beginnings we have always moved toward freedom and change and today is another part of our continued march forward.