Do Your Part

Over Christmas I will be spending time with some family and friends who weren't exactly excited for Obama's victory in November. I am pretty sure they could recite every anti-Obama, anti-Muslim, anti-choice, anti-tax talking point from Rush Limbaugh and James Dobson out there (though I don't want to try and find out). Let's just say, I wouldn't be surprised to hear something like this...

...one of my friends told me last month that her mother's best friend believes changing the American flag will be "the first order of business" when Obama takes office. I am not kidding.

What people who believe this don't understand is that this election was not about Obama at all. It wasn't about a slogan of change because our country has already changed dramatically, thanks to technology, 9/11, Iraq, global climate change, etc.

This election was not about Obama at all. It was about you and me. It was about reponsibility, opportunity, and community. We all have the responsibility to get active in something we believe in, we have the opportunity to solve big problems, and we must come together in our own communities to make it happen.

Andrew Sullivan posted this excerpt from a speech Obama made back in June of 2007...

The truth is, one man cannot make a movement. No single law can erase the prejudice in the heart of a child who hangs a noose on a tree. Or in the callousness of a prosecutor who bypasses justice in the pursuit of vengeance. No one leader, no matter how shrewd, or experienced, or inspirational, can prevent teenagers from killing other teenagers in the streets of our cities, or free our neighborhoods from the grip of homelessness, or make real the promise of opportunity and equality for every citizen.

Only a country can do those things. Only this country can do those things. That's why if you give me the chance to serve this nation, the most important thing I will do as your President is to ask you to serve this country, too. The most important thing I'll do is to call on you every day to take a risk, and do your part to carry this movement forward. Against deep odds and great cynicism I will ask you to believe that we can right the wrong we see in America. I say this particularly to the young people who are listening today. ...

I know that you believe it's possible too.

This ad from the Obama campaign sums up this message...