A New Day in America – the Inauguration of Barack Obama
Today is truly a new day. This is history. This is change. This is a day America has been waiting for. January 20, 2009 welcomes our first African-American President of the United States.
As a history/government teacher in a school that is only beginning to experience diversity, this day is huge! I encourage my students and my nation to remember today. What are you wearing? What will you do today? What are your hopes and dreams for the next four or eight years? What are you fears as we move forward in our country? What will you do to commemorate today? What will you tell your children years from now about what you remember? Will you write in a journal? Will you write a letter to be opened in 20 years?
Barack Obama is nothing if he is not an inspiration. It makes no matter what your political persuasion is, we are standing on a moment of greatness. A moment where Americans can be proud and honored by how far we have come as a country and the most diverse nation on our planet. This is a moment to be remembered, honored, and revered. This is history.
How many of us have our “Kennedy moment”, our “Challenger moment”, or our “9/11 moment”? Most of us can remember those moments in our past. What we were doing. What we were wearing. What emotions we felt and still feel about those moments. What distinguishes today from most of our other moments — is that today is full of hope, change, and promise. What does or will today mean to you?
To my students: Today – is your “moment”. You should commemorate it. You need to celebrate it. It’s your duty to pass it on….
