Obama's Message of Change

Obama's message of change and hope has ignited a tiny spark in the hearts of ordinary Americans that maybe; just maybe this promise from a politician will be different. We, the people are due for a leader who actually sees us when he casts his eyes over the multitude of people who greet him. It's been a long time coming to have a leader who is willing to look out for our best interest instead of those fortunate few who hold around 50% of the GDP in this country. It certainly would be nice to not have our voices muffled by big corporations and lobbyist with agendas contrary to the good of this nation.

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, hope means to expect with confidence or trust. Change is defined as to make something radically different. To give a different position, course or direction.

We had already figured out change was needed. The American people are light years ahead of those in Washington. We are neither ignorant nor uninformed. By the time government reports signal a problem, we've been living it for a year or more. If only government understood their need to listen and pay attention to what's really happening in the country, they could save millions of dollars on reports unnecessarily generated and save tax payer's money to boot.

Each time a new president takes the oath of office, eager eyes look to the steps of Washington for the promise of change and renewed hope each of them offer us and few deliver. When change falters and disappears into the walls of Congress and hope is tabled and replaced with partisan politics, the people once again cast aside hopeful eyes knowing promises made are not to be fulfilled.

Most, if not all political leaders chose their profession because they want to influence the direction our country will take. Power struggles are constantly on going in an effort to be in charge and command the political agenda. Unfortunately, few understand the role of a true leader. Few understand standing up for what you believe is different from standing up for what's best for you politically.

A great leader understands respect and trust is not something demanded of followers. Respect and trust are earned before someone can be an effective leader. It's earned by careful, intelligent deliberations with the understanding of consequences for all. It's earned through honesty and sincere empathy for the well being of all the people. It's earned by looking an adversary in the eye and working together in compromise for the common good. It's earned with one eye to the past (to avoid mistakes now known) and the other eye to the future. The future for all, not a political future for self or one political party. A strong leader understands the power of united voices increases his power. Enemies who don't understand united power do so at their peril.

We all hold the same belief that America is our land. The home of the free and the brave. An American ideal that lives in all of us till the day we die. The protection of our shores, our way of life and our Constitution is the duty of each and every one of us. If we have leaders who fail to protect any of the three, they are not a leader we should follow. Every time we tolerate excuses, lies, spin or any kind of deception to cover up mistakes or missteps, we do harm to the country we all love.

Every now and then a leader emerges from the political spin and empty promises of a political season to once again give us hope that maybe this time things will be different. We are at a critical cross roads in our history as a country. We need change to restore our credibility and moral commitment to a skeptical world. We need hope to renew the power and credibility of the office of the presidency to the American people. After all, the president is only a trustee of the office. The people are the true owners.

We succeed as a nation when we recognize the diversity in our communities as a common thread that binds us to this land. Our ancestors understood and out of that understanding, our constitution was created. A government created of, by and for the people. If we truly want change and if we hope President Obama can turn things around, we, the people of this great nation must turn our eyes to the future and join hands to help the president pull us back up by our boot straps, roll up our sleeves and use our combined might to once again turn America's shining light across the seas of the world. We might have political differences, but united we stand in spite of those differences.

Our eyes are once again focused on the steps of Washington to bring us together and regenerate the American Dream and come together to meet the challenges passed on by our founding fathers. A proud history of determination and commitment to a land of endless possibilities for all who dare to dream.

Only with the passing of time, will we be able to look back to see if the hope for America was full filled. I pray we are not disappointed once again.