Mr. President, Let Us Change and America Persevere

[Raymond Dix Jr.]

Tears of joy, sighs of relief, and pride filled shouts were evident amongst the many watching President Barack Obama take the oath of office as the 44th President of the United States. Shivering in the cold, but warmed by the expectation of a new day, thousands witnessed the hallmark of American democracy; the peaceful transition of power.

I celebrate the fact that in spite of our differences, we live in a nation where political authority conveys not through military coup, political espionage or intrigue worthy of Hollywood cinema. On the contrary, we live in a country where we need not worry if the government will change hands overnight by some act of ill will. We remain confident that American democracy and freedom has once again set the standard for the world to follow and admire.

The Inauguration of our new leader was a day for all Americans to be proud, black, white or brown, rich or poor, Democrat or Republican. We celebrate the rich heritage left to us by the framers of this great nation. They are worthy of our honor and respect.

With the joy of occasion deeply ingrained in the hearts of faithful patriots, it is important that we take note of the stated intention of our new President. His declaration that it is "time to reshape America" plants the seed of expectation in the fertile ground of hearts that have fundamentally lost faith in our country. His reasons for this are simple; crisis requires change.

This begs the question, "does America need reshaping?" President Obama believes that because we have struggle, because we have calamity, and because there are some who fail to believe in the American oasis of opportunity; America must change.

The thought of reshaping a nation that endures through the very challenges passionately articulated by our new President, is a troubling one. America survived difficulties including revolution for freedom, slavery, civil war, famine, depression, global war, struggles for civil equality, and terror attacks; still our country endures without fundamental reshaping. How do we explain this? Should then America be undone in this present crisis?

Mr. President, perhaps America does not need reshaping, but those of us whose expectation is for government to supplant the very spirit and ingenuity of which you so eloquently spoke, must reshape our thoughts of our own lives with respect to this great nation. This is certainly a watershed moment in American history, not just because of the inauguration of the first African American President in the storied history of our nation, but because if ever we needed an "ask not what your country could do for you, but ask what you can do for your country" moment, that time is now.

With looming recession, the war on terror and a general sense of discontent by those who tell us America is not working; it is time for the indomitable American spirit to rise above the urge to redo this great land. We do not need a do over, just those who are willing to do. To do for ourselves with energy that seizes present opportunity, a drive that surpasses the desire to give up and perseverance that pushes us beyond our self-imposed limits.

I celebrate the history of this moment with great pride as a black man. However, I urge our new President to be prudent in the effort to transform America. I believe our founders laid a strong foundation, which endures over 230 years later, and this endurance is our best testament to the greatness of the American experiment.

God bless our new President, and God bless America.