A new day

A new day which has long awaited is coming to our country. Tomorrow, January 20th, Barack Obama will be sworn in as the 44th President of our United States. He offers to our country a new face, both young and hopeful, yet also determined to transform the country into a more united states. On that note, it seems this country; our wonderful United States has, in its usual unintentional, big, boisterous American way, gone into Obamanic Thrust. We are united alright; united in outlandish and crass showmanship that most of our adversaries and allies detest us for.

The new rage for Presidential inauguration spectators are various souvenirs of hats, flags, pins, buttons, iPods, cell phone bling and unmentionables. You can even go online and buy from Amazon, a piece of Presidential history. I would imagine in just a few short days, the onset of YouTube images of Obama-girl in her sparkled Obama thong, totting safe sex amenities will break any firewall and commence the onset of waterhole gossip and office forwards. Though I would agree, the best marketing tactics are those presented by opportunity, it is over-the-top Obamania.

In addition, our Nations capital is now overrun by the throngs of appearances by the big wigs of the music industry, and celebs (not to mention those artists who outwardly shout to the left of politics). Sort of an Oxy-moron mantra of the man who professes that he wants to unite us without the ramifications of class, age, sex, creed, race, lifestyle or political agendas.

The parties started last week upon the arrival of several celebrities, the only ones who could afford the $1000 a night hotel rooms. Even the Jonas Brothers, who in my humble opinion, can’t sing worth beans are anticipated to show up and at least gyrate their way into history. In all our celebration and overboard hoopla, perhaps we have done a disservice for our new President intent on uniting this country? Do we really need to get the latest Botox treatment just for our spot on the mall, even though we would be watching with thousands of our countryman our new Presidents face across a large screen? I don’t know about you, but the last person I’d want to stand next to during a Presidential inauguration is someone whom I have seen plastered across the media as one who has acted badly in public, whose inauguration attire probably exceeds my salary, spends their holidays not with their families but in St Croix, has dogs instead of children because of choice and has said they want change, hope and smart politics and yet doesn’t reflect that in their own life. It is indeed a celebration, but are we celebrating in bad form?

I find it interesting that this newly elected President, the first black President of our country unintentionally overshadowed this precious day, Martin Luther King Junior Day. Though there are celebrations that this country has always held for MLK day, it almost seems underscored by all the hoopla of President-elect Obama’s inauguration. Barack Obama didn’t elect (excuse the pun) this date of the Presidential term. And I would venture to say that Martin Luther King Junior wouldn’t have it any other way. To be outshined by the first black President of the United States, is what Martin Luther King Junior had envisioned in his, ‘I have a Dream’ speech almost 46 years ago.

I didn’t vote for Mister Obama, in fact I didn’t vote for a president this year. So, I resolve to uphold my oath to myself that date in November, seemingly so long ago: That I will continue to pray for this dynamic man and his family. That he continues to look to our God for answers and that he continues to uphold what his vision set for him to do and I pray that our forefathers, including Doctor Martin Luther King Junior, continue to have great and enormous influence on any decision President-elect Obama makes. It's a new day in this country and no matter who you voted for, the best thing to do right now is pray and have confidence that our fellow countryman (and women), have voted for the best of the best.
And afterall this pomp and circumstance, ridicules celebrity hoopla dies down, Obama can get to work.
Oh-and one more thing, a sign that Obama is going to do well in his new job, he looks to one of the wisest people in his life: On several occasions, when the media verbiage crossed and he and his wife disagreed, he looked to his wife and said in quiet resolve, “Yes dear.”