Today is the Second Inauguration of President Barack Obama, our first Black President, as well as the celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. MLK would have been 84 years old today and 50 years ago he gave his famous "I Have A Dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington, where he declared,
"I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.
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."
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."
President Obama will stand on the Capital steps to take the Oath of Office and look across the Mall to the Lincoln Memorial where one great man stood and fought for a dream that is now coming true. May we take time to reflect today, not only on the peaceful transfer of power in our government but also how as a nation we are moving forward to reflect a country of diversity with people of all colors, all nationalities, all religions and sexual orientations.
Truly I am proud to be an American today!