Where were you when America changed?
Yesterday was an incredible day in American history. Yesterday an African-American took the oath of office and ushered in a new day in America. Yesterday the largest crowd in DC history gathered on the Mall to witness the act. Yesterday America started a new era of hope. Where were you at when it happened?
While I had an all day session at work that was important, I experienced the day through my friends on Facebook. At 11 a.m. CST we turned the screen from Powerpoints to the news and watched as Pres. Barack Obama was sworn in and listened to his speech for America.
I sat with an African-American co-worker who shared with me that 46 years ago his elementary school in KY finally integrated. I shared with him that my school in AR integrated at the beginning of my second grade. We both lived to see a day of change then and lived to see it today. Pres. Obama said “We cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve.”
Throughout the morning and afternoon I followed my friends in San Antonio, Washington, Helsinki and The Hague as they updated their statuses with what they were doing and feeling, the later being the coolest part.
As I said in my status as I looked over all the comments I smiled because the feelings were enthusiastic and uplifting. It feels good today and we all were a part of it in some small way. Today I heard comments from both my Democratic and Republican friends that regardless of our political persuasions we all want Pres. Obama to succeed. It means so much.
Monday I marched in San Antonio’s MLK March with my fellow employees from USAA for the first time. We gathered with others for the largest MLK March in the nation, over 100,000 people walking to remember the Dream. We all carried the banner at one point or another during the walk. We all chanted “U S A A we salute MLK” to cheers of people on the street. It was an incredible feeling.
Today we start the hard work and build a new America. It’s no wonder the euphoric feeling we all have now. As Pres. Obama said “For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies.”
