"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”
Martin Luther King Jr. 

These immortal words were spoken by Martin Luther King Jr. during his 1963 “I have a dream” speech that he gave at the Lincoln Memorial during his March on Washington.  

King is recognized for his many historic speeches but, of course, he was also a minister, civil rights leader and still serves as an inspiration to us today. We remember him for his dedicated efforts to provide equal opportunities for everyone.

Last week, our nation celebrated the life and accomplishments of Martin Luther King Jr., and it was fitting that also last week, approximately 46 years after King’s historic speech, we were able to witness the swearing in of President Barack Obama. I was fortunate to be able to attend the swearing in ceremony and be able to reflect on how far we have come as a nation.

As I was watching the Inauguration on Tuesday, I was struck by the significance of Obama giving his Inaugural speech on the other end of that same Washington Mall where King gave his speech in 1963. There were so many people there, simply to witness this momentous moment in our history.

I found President Obama’s Inauguration speech and the entire event to be truly inspiring.  It was exciting to see the crowds pouring into D.C. in preparation for Inauguration Day.  And while I have attended two other Inaugurations in the past, I must say that I have never seen one that had such excitement and high expectations. It was enlightening to see that President Obama’s speech and the entire day met, and even exceeded, those expectations.  

His speech included many good points, one being when he said, “On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.”

He is correct that there are many challenges that currently face our nation, but with hard work and effort we will get past these hard times.  We will need to work together in a bipartisan manner to accomplish our goals and overcome the current challenges moving forward into the future.  

I was also heartened by Obama’s thought that it would take all Americans to fully implement change, and that it wouldn’t happen in just the White House or Congress but in homes across the United States.  Every citizen is capable of affecting change in this world and every citizen can play their part.

It was amazing to walk away from President Obama’s Inauguration with the feeling that I had been a witness to history.  There are so few times in life where we get to experience moments like this that we know will be remembered by the generations to come. Now it is time for Congress to change the way they are accustomed to doing business and put good public policy before partisan politics.

I hope you also enjoyed the Inauguration and Martin Luther King Day celebrations this past week.  If you have any questions or concerns on any issues I can be of service on, please feel free to contact my office by phone at (202) 225-4324.
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