The 44th President is Also The First

Let Tuesday, January 20, 2009 be a day of major history.

Other than what will likely be a comedy scene on this weekend's SNL...

...today's inauguration was indeed magnificent. Who would have thought that- in this lifetime (let alone this blogger's nearly 42 years' existence)- that a black man would become President. Who would have thought that- some fifty to sixty years after the peak of the Civil Rights struggle- this moment would happen?

This is all still a bit surreal to me, like I'm in some kind of dream. But this really has happened, and I could not have been more prouder to be a part of it, even as I've watched it on TV some 3,000 miles away. Yes, Barack Hussein Obama is the President of the United States! Yes! This is real!

While it's true that he's the first African-American to reach the office, let's make clear that he's truly is American in every way shape and form. His calm demeanor will help him in the tough times- and many say that we're there now. He appears to have a 'everyman' attitude, as if he genuinely cares about the 300 million who live in this nation. I truly believe that- when his time in office expires- history will look much more kindly on him.

As for the now-former President George W. Bush, even though I didn't agree with much of his agenda, I would like to thank him for his eight years of service to the country. He, too, deserves our praise and gratitude. I wish him and Laura the best as they return to private life.

Thank you, Mr. Bush.

Obama's inauguration means a lot to African-Americans. This means that another barrier has been shattered, and any excuse not to succeed has just blew out with the wind. The work and struggles of Martin Luther King, Jr.; Rosa Parks; Malcolm X; Medgar Evers; and others have no doubt crested up to this point.



When I watched the inauguration, I was reminded of another US President during his inauguration in 1961:
Johnny909/YouTube

I saw and heard a bit of John Fitzgerald Kennedy in the speech of Barack Hussein Obama today. Kennedy sought to unite this country back in 1961. Now 48 years later, the message is pretty much the same. If Kennedy were alive today, at 91, he'd definitely be proud of the fruits of his labors. He- like Dr. King; Mrs. Parks; and others who devoted their walks of life- are probably crying tears of joy in heaven right now. Every slave who had toiled under the oppression of hatred and humiliation, and their ancestors thereafter, are lifting their hands and singing hallelujahs over the event that has happened today, January 20, 2009.

Obama has challenges ahead. We must- and will- stand at his side as he works to right the ship, and bring America back to respectability. He seeks to be inclusive, not exclusive. Bring everyone together, not tear them apart. This country will no doubt be in a much better shape, and when his term is over- be it in 2013 or 2017- I have the feeling that history will look more kindly on this man, this Barack Hussein Obama. And we will all be all the better because of him.

My prayer to God is to grant His/Her protection on President Obama. Give the President wisdom and guidance, and give him the love that God shares unconditionally to all of us. In the Sovereign name of Christ. Amen.

Copyright (C) 2009, by Darren W. Alexander. All Rights Reserved.