The Legacy

When the speeches have fallen silent, the festive moods have calmed, and the clamor for just one more recounting of the victorious moments has finally subsided, how will he govern? Martin reminded us not to judge a man by the color of his skin, but by the content of his character. The question now will be how much of that character will we see and how will it carry him over those inevitable rough times ahead.

The greatness of our nation is clearly on display to the rest of the world, once again demonstrating to all that we, the Americans, are able to grow, to evolve, and to do the unexpected, all in order for us to to them as well as ourselves that we are indeed a melting pot in which anyone can grow up to become President of these United States.

Not unlike many minorities, this president will be handed the problems of the country as well as many of the problems of the free world. He will have to find creative ways to not only pull the parties together, but to hold them together in ways that will allow them to deal with the problems of the day. And through this he will face internal bigotry, hate, and that ugly undercurrent of both those that were not on his side and those that would actively seek his downfall, both politically as well as personally.

It will indeed be a measure of his resolve. No doubt he knows the expectations will be high and the road ahead will be just as rough as it has been throughout his life. He must find a way to bring about financial cures as well as healing the image of America throughout the world. He has indeed been handed the smelly side of the stick. Only time will tell how eloquently he handles it.

Only a scant number of men have mustered the courage to hold such a low paying position throughout time and as with each of them, the support of the American people will be pivotal in their success or failure. Now the time comes for all of us to pull together, put aside our differences, celebrate another smooth transition of government, and do that which is necessary to again put the US back on top of the world.

I congratulate and honor Senator McCain for showing good sportsmanship and recognizing the victor. Unlike past competitors, the Senator understands the benefit of a clear and unquestionable succession with little debate or hostility.

Regardless of our political views, we have a new President America. Let us pull together and once again strive to create that shining house upon a hill that another great president spoke of. It is that which makes us great and it is that which causes the remainder of the world to envy us and want so much to be like us.