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Jan. 20
We are one.
This year’s inauguration theme rang true today as I watched people of all races, genders, religions and cultures come together to watch as our new president, Barack Obama, took his oath.
We all stood, laughed and cheered together as we listened and watched history be made before our eyes. We acted as one group, united with hope for a common goal: change.
We were one.
It didn’t matter whether you were Republican, Democrat or Independent. It didn’t matter whether you were black, white or purple. It didn’t matter what your beliefs were at all. What mattered was that you were there, supporting your country and your president.
I was there.
Today, I joined a group of more than one million people hoping for a better future, praying for answers and united in the fight for change in our nation.
We will continue to be one.
What makes this country great is the people within it. Each person comes from a different background and has something different to offer the United States. And now, we’re finally accepting our differences and acting as a whole, not as parts.
After all, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, and our nation is greater when we function as one united nation, not as individuals.
It’s clear that we are all willing to accept and embrace the challenges that our nation faces. As Obama said today, it will not be easy and it will not be quick, but we will prevail over these tough times. We have done it before, and we are ready to do it again.
But, we will need to act as one being, in support of our President. We will need to work together for a common cause, not argue over petty things. We will need to be patient, for change takes time. We will need to be open-minded, as there will be no one solution for any of our problems.
But most importantly, we will need to be one.
Today at the inauguration of our 44th president, I saw the power that people can have when they come together for a cause.
I’m willing to put my own agenda aside and accept what is best for our nation. We can only act as one when everyone is willing to do the same. If you are looking for reason to accept this, look to the “Pledge of Allegiance.”
We are “one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
It’s time to live by our pledge.
Jan. 19
I’m getting closer and closer to witnessing history.
When I woke up today, I realized that I am just one day away from watching one of the most historical inaugurations this country has ever seen. And, I’m one of 240,000 people who are able to see it all.
Tomorrow, Barack Obama will be sworn in as the 44th president of the United States, and the first black president our country has ever seen.
Tomorrow, just one day after Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday, his dream will have been fully realized. More than 50 years ago, King hoped that, one day, his people would see equality in our country.
Tomorrow, I’m sure Dr. King will be looking down and smiling. Because tomorrow, Dr. King will have nothing left for his dream. It will all become reality.
Tomorrow, our nation will be a great place.
And tomorrow, I get to be a part of it all, right in the same city where Dr. King gave his “I Have a Dream” speech so many years ago.
Not only will I be witnessing a historical event in our nation’s history, I will be witnessing one of the most historical events to happen in my lifetime. In fact, it’s the single most historical event in my life so far.
And, I couldn’t be more excited.
Tomorrow, when I’m standing in the cold outside the Capitol awaiting Barack Obama’s inaugural address, I won’t be complaining.
I’ll be beaming.
Jan. 18
I can officially die happy.
After waiting over three hours in the cold today, I fulfilled one of my lifetime goals.
I saw Garth Brooks in concert.
Granted, seeing him at the Lincoln memorial alongside A-list celebrities like Beyonce, Bruce Springsteen, Denzel Washington and John Mellencamp were added bonuses and, the ending speech from president-elect Barack Obama was just icing on the cake.
I never thought I would see so many celebrities in one place, and definitely wouldn’t have guessed that, if I did, it would be at the inaugural concert for Barack Obama.
Waiting in the cold, walking all the way to the concert and going through security were all worth it when The Boss opened the show this afternoon. Each celebrity gave his or her regards to Obama, while honoring past leaders like JFK, Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King, Jr.
These leaders made great strides in times of depression, disruption and opposition. Today, in much similar conditions, thousands of Americans came together to sing about hope. We gathered in front of Lincoln memorial ready to help our new president enact change and conquer the problems he faces. Obama is ready to fight for a better future, and as thousands of people sang “God Bless America” in unison, it became clear that these people are willing to do anything to ensure our future is a better one.
My future is already looking up. I can check off more “bucket list” items in one day than most people can in a lifetime.
My experience became an abrupt reality today as I was standing among my peers and thousands of other people cheering as Obama walked the steps of the Lincoln memorial and stood to dance when Garth Brooks played “Shout.”
