This Is a Call

As an absurd number of Americans descend upon our nation's capital (1.5 million are anticipated) the Obama inauguration is the political version of The Grammys, The Oscars or The Emmys, or perhaps all three combined. After being in the toilet for some time, this country's morale seems to have finally emerged with a glow of hope. But that morale rests heavily on the expectations of our new fearless leader and what lies ahead remains a bumpy, dark road.

Hopefully Barack Obama won't fall into the same foolish traps that his predecessor did. We cannot survive more "Mission Accomplished" or any other arrogant pronouncements that only hurt America's standing in the world. Now we all have equal responsibility in the task of reassembling the pieces of our great country, pieces that have fallen by the wayside over the past 8 years.

This is a call to you, Generation Obama. Yes, it is really cool and bad ass that the man himself will be sworn in on Tuesday. Celebration will continue into Tuesday night, but once Beyonce hits her final note the real work begins. This is the changing of the guard, the passing of the torch. And it is as much -- if not more so -- about our involvement as it is about campaign promises and a shiny new hero.

Generation O, we must show the equal enthusiasm to our communities as we did in getting out the vote. Whether it be volunteering at a local soup kitchen or finding a cause to donate the loose change that the declining economy has left in our pockets, becoming more involved in our community or helping wounded veterans...Generation Obama, this is our call to duty, to show the doubters that our new leader's message will not be in vain.

Barack Obama can be the face that galvanizes a movement amongst young people to show the world that we are ready to right the wrongs both at home and abroad. Just because the man will take the highest office our nation offers, it doesn't mean that we can relax and resume accepting mediocrity. If the election of our new leader has shown us anything, it is that united, we can achieve the impossible and this country can be the greatest country in the world.

So for those of you heading to DC to join in the party, I ask, no I beg of you -- don't stop there. Hangout and enjoy the spectacle in DC, but let's parlay this energy and enthusiasm into making positive contributions in our own communities. Then, and only then, will President Obama's message of hope and change really become a reality, and not some clichéd bumper sticker that can peel right off in less than four years.

The ball is in our court and if we drop it, it will prove jackasses like Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter right. Let's show all the naysayers that electing President Obama is just the beginning in making our country a better place for us, and for the rest of the world.

Comments

[jhNY]

Until my lay-off, I was a part of the American workforce fulltime since the mid-70's, during which the wages of working Americans, when adjusted for inflation have remained more or less flat. And during this same time, speculative capitalists and the occupants of the nation's boardrooms have rewarded themselves with an ever-greater portion of the profits, or the gross anyway, while freezing out unions and unionism, and exporting jobs away from the US in return for corporate tax breaks.

My little retirement nest egg has been spent on living expenses, my credit card debt is overlarge, and my present prospects are few. Because of my employment status, on one hand I am a perfect candidate for volunteering my services, what with all the spare time on my hands. But on the other hand, I feel as if by never arising to an income level that made me a member of the management class, my whole working life has been a slow sacrifice to the advantage of my social betters. And if I do manage to find gainful employment, a goodly portion of my taxes will be spent on paying debt service for monies thrown at the same capitalists who persuaded Congress to rewrite the bankruptcy laws in their favor, at interest rates that would have astounded FDR. Haven't I given enough?