Just Like Me | 01.22.13

As I watched televised coverage of the inauguration of U.S. President Barack H. Obama, I couldn't help but be overwhelmed with gratitude.  There were a number of reasons for which I was grateful; but one stood out in particular, oddly enough.   While listening to the commentators on CNN, a quote by George Washington caught my attention and went something like (and I paraphrase), "It is the peaceful transfer of power that will set this nation apart from others."  Even though this was a second term inauguration ceremony, I felt so privileged to be an American at that moment because, despite party differences and varying views on the role government should (or should not) have in the lives of its citizens, there are so many countries throughout the world where there is no peaceful transfer of power.  In some places, people fear for their lives as well as the overall stability of the government and economy when leaders come into the top political offices of their countries.

In a nation such as ours, we are wondrously blessed to enjoy so many privileges that, after all these years, still cause foreigners to see the United States of America as a land of opportunity.  Seeing the sea of faces flooding the national mall on yesterday, cheering and smiling, celebrating the diversity of our citizenship and optimistically looking forward to the next four years of President Obama's administration, I couldn't help but feel patriotic.  I couldn't help but wish that feeling lasted for more than a day or so.  I couldn't help but wonder if our country will ever move beyond the politics of party ideals and really work together to make life better for all our nation's citizens.  Anyone can pinpoint our differences and use them divisively; however, it takes the truly patriotic among us to build a platform for national improvement around that which simply makes us all the same.  There is no black race, white race, latino race or asian race...  There is but one race, the human race.  And as Americans, we must become more sensitive to that which makes us all, despite our backgrounds and beliefs, part of this human race.

I have been known to be quite the opinionated individual, that certain someone who can be rather vocal about my beliefs (when I am so moved).  In fact, we all have our own convictions and philosophies on life.  What I've come to learn in my brief time on this Earth is that, even though one person can make a difference, it takes many people to create societal change.  The culture in our nation may indeed be influenced by an extreme handful of powerful people, when compared to the overall population size of our nation; but it's the masses who determine the direction in which our country's culture shifts.  I pray that American culture shifts from one that celebrates people's differences to one that champions what makes us similar.  It may not by my choice to celebrate everything that makes our respective views of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness so different; but I CAN choose to learn to understand those differences and commit to not leveraging them as devices of division.  It is my desire, as an American, to DIS-cover what makes every person in this great big melting pot of a nation JUST LIKE ME so I can champion not just the commonalities we all share but the culture Jesus Christ Himself came to bring us: "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these" (Mark 12:30-31).