What Obama's Inauguration means to me

Since I decided that Politics was not my intended course over 10 years ago when many felt it was where I was “destined”, “would end up” etc, I have refrained from much discourse on Politics. Today however, I do comment on the Historic Events of this time not just because of the politics of the moment, but of the impact tomorrow's inauguration would have on US, and world history. How wonderfully symbolic that it occurs as a seamless transition from Martin Luther King Junior's Day. Am I predicting overwhelming success for Obama? Am I in some way looking to him as the “messiah”? Not at all. In fact, I doubt the actual achievements at least within his first four years of Presidency would be of great significance from a practical perspective. The emotional, psychological and other less tangible effects however have already started being, and I have great belief that they will continue to be phenomenal.

For those who oppose him, called him an empty suit and much worse, nothing he does will be without criticism; but such is the life of a politician. For many others however, he represents something many never thought possible; a non traditional model for the highest office in the United States of America, a renewal of the “I can be anything I want to be dream” for so many minorities and less socio-economically advantaged persons who frequently see boundless highschool hopes die from the the day after graduation when faced with the “real world”. Obama himself is not going to reach out to these, but his story acts as a motivation, a mentorship of itself, a counter-acting inspiration to hold on to the belief that “Yes we can”.

As the mother of a two year old, it gives me an even deeper appreciation of the momentous occasion that is unfolding. With no prompting except a realization of what was sometimes on the Television over the past months he volunteers whenever a story or picture of Obama appears, saying “That's Obama! Obama says 'Yes We Can'” . If at 2 this stands out more to my son than Sesame Street and Bob the Builder, it give me great hope for his future, and as his dad put it that the first President he would remember knowing as he grows through childhood would be one who like him has at least one parent who was a first generation immigrant, who is registered as a minority, who did not emerge from generations of family wealth, who in many ways had an experience more similar to his than any past President ever had. This to me is the Power of the Obama Election, Inauguration and pending Service. Any good tangible deeds that comes forth would be just like icing on the cake.

I join with the many out there who are celebrating a renewed interest in American Politics, a renewed call to be involved, a renewed faith in Democracy. I wish Obama all the best in actualization Dr. King's dream and I am happy that my son will be growing up experiencing it.