Inspired Today!!

"Our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint."

I know I haven't posted anything in a very long time. Chalk it up to work and family during the holidays, oh that and new baby girl set to arrive in June. So I was at work this morning watching the Obama inauguration. Just yesterday (on my day off for MLK day) I found myself somewhat annoyed that EVERY SINGLE CHANNEL was Obama/MLK 24/7. I mean, yes I voted for Obama, but I'm not sure I needed to know EVERY little tidbit and trivia about the Obamas. Though I do sort of get it now, after watching some footage on past presidents and civil rights leaders. Apparently, it has been a really long time since any one person has inspired as much hope and faith in ourselves and our future than Obama.

I watched the inauguration on cnn.com which had a link in to facebook, where people were updating their comments based on what was happening. I saw a lot of people saying how proud they were to be American today. I had to agree with them. I personally couldn't care less what color our president is. Be he black, white, "mellow-yellow", or purple with zebra stripes (my personal favorite), when he read the comments above in his speech, I really did feel tears start to come.

I've felt for a long time that a large portion of the world perceives the US as a big bully. I doubt this is the intention of our government, but having lived overseas, it is definately how it looks. I was never more proud of my nation when our President today said the equivalent of "Might Doesn't Make Right." Right makes Might, and even then we go forward with "humility and restraint." I hope that is truly the policy that comes out over the next 4 years. We just might have a hope after all of establishing our moral authority in the rest of the world.

So the question du jour seems to be "Is the dream of MLK fulfilled now that we have elected a black president?" After much pondering, I say, it is not necesarily fulfilled in a single man, but boy are we a heck of lot further closer to the mountaintop today. I can say that I am happy today because I can point to a biracial president and tell my children (who are bi-racial too) that there is still prejudice and hatred in this world, but YOU can accomplish anything in your life that you choose to. I am grateful to all the fighters of prior eras, those who fought for civil rights for any minority who didn't have them, including racial and gender minorities. I am grateful for my right to vote and that in some very small way, I was part of this day. Obama was my choice.