The Beginning of an Era

What you see when you go to the White House website:

Today we wake up to a new America with a new president. It is an exciting time to be an American and a global citizen. Some people doubt whether we will see change or not, but at the least, we are at a time in history where change is possible. To me, that is hopeful.

Yesterday, I was awakened at 5:00 a.m. by a phone call from a friend in Nepal who wanted to tell us congratulations on our new president. A couple hours later, I saw on television the largest number of people who have ever gathered in our nation's capital. And then I watched, with close friends, the first African-American to be inaugurated into the White House. At least for now, people are united, thirsty for a different America and a different world, and willing to dream about what that might look like. To me, that is hopeful.

Here are some of my favorites from Barack Obama's inauguration speech:
"As the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself, and America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace...

To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history, but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds.

And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to the suffering outside our borders, nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it."

I am ready for that type of change.