Far better writers than I will explore the legacy that today will yield; the second inauguration of this country's first black president, held on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and attended by Americans of every background and creed, will hopefully usher in a new era in which we "
make these words, these rights, these values – of Life, and Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness – real for every American." As President Obama said this afternoon, looking out over the Mall towards the Washington Monument and beyond to the Lincoln Memorial, "Being true to our founding documents does not require us to agree on every contour of life; it does not mean we will all define liberty in exactly the same way, or follow the same precise path to happiness. Progress does not compel us to settle centuries-long debates about the role of government for all time – but it does require us to act in our time."
I hope that you were all stirred by the inauguration today. I hope that we all - whether or not we agree with Obama's statements on women's equality, gay rights, climate change, healthcare, financial reforms, and foreign policy - will be encouraged to find our voices, to take a stand, and to act. Let's see what we can do with these next four years.
My series about job hunting will return next Monday!
