One Step Closer

I don't know how many times my eyes welled up with tears today. A lot. I truly love the American election process and the way in which the democracy of this country was designed and founded. I think it's astounding and inspirational and beautiful and challenging and full of faith and promise.

Obama's trek to and successful acquisition of the presidency has been astounding for so many reasons... the not least of which has been to finally have an African-American president who can claim himself as multiracial and who represents, to many of us, the very foundational philosophy and tenant upon which this country was created. We welcome all; we honor all; we provide opportunity for all.

Now, we have not always lived up to that dream, that ideal, that creed. Not by a long shot. And mistakes and errs along the path to such grand promise have occurred time and again throughout our history with very dire and lasting consequences for our unified identity and combined destiny as Americans.

But it is the possibility that keeps us striving—it is the "better angel" of our national and collective nature. We aspire to live the promises articulated in our Declaration of Independence and to treat all citizens – all fellow humans – as equals.

Today we took one step closer to living that dream. And though many have said it in a multititude of ways... there is a reason we keep singing the same tune, making the same points, and telling the same stories.

It means something that the little kids I see every day at my internship site will be growing up with a president whose skin is the same color as theirs—whose story might reflect all or a part of their own personal and family histories. It is significant that my 2 year old daughter will remember her first president as an African-American man... that the first family is black, not white, that the president was raised by a single parent and had a father born in another country.

And although it will be probably a while longer before we see a woman in office, or a openly homosexual man or woman, or someone of a non-traditional faith, etc... today's inauguration ushered in a time when we are one step closer to openly and joyfully embracing the diversity and complexity of experience and context which makes this country so unique and exceptional.

As so many have said before me (including Obama): Our strength lies in our diversity. Our uniqueness and ability to shine as a people connects to our fundamental philosophies of government and humanity. And our ability to traverse change and accept the open expression of our difference and universality is integral to our future as a people who love and honor our one, indivisible nation.