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Adam SylvainBroadside Staff Writer

Love at First Sight

On the eve of President Barack Obamas historic inauguration, Americans

remembered Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for his remarkable achievements in the realm ofcivil rights. It was rather befitting that Martin Luther King Jr. Day precede one of the

most anticipated Presidencies of our lifetime. It was important, one day before we namedBarack Obama our nations forty-fourth President, that we acknowledged Dr. Martin

Luther King, Jr. for his civil rights contributions that have helped our country ease thestrain of racism and bigotry. Both men are responsible for uniting Americans on the basis

of equality, and brotherhood. I am thankful that my country, which I believe to be thefreest and happiest on earth, can cling to this message and elect our first African-

American President.While I share the optimism of my fellow Americans and welcome President

Barack Obama to his seat in the oval office, I caution everyone to reserve their judgmentsof our newly-elected Chief. I have been surprised to see such early comparisons of

President Obama to monumental figures such as Abraham Lincoln and theaforementioned Martin Luther King, Jr. Understanding what the Presidency of Barack

Obama brings to our country, a promise of change to a population tired of war and miredin a recession, I cannot rest my faith alone in promises or bold comparisons. I believe it is

more important to be a person who can make decisions on character, answer pointedquestions with conviction, and enforce morally-driven legislation. I hope that President

Obama will have the strength and resolve to make right, and often difficult, decisions. Interms of politics, I believe we are first and foremost, Americans, before we are

Republicans or Democrats, Libertarians or Independents. I have faith in my country, justas I have faith in my President. My concern is that most of the country has fallen into a

Love at first sight fascination with President Obama, without knowing very muchabout the person, or politician that he represents. I just hope that as responsible citizens

we stop being so quick to exalt or condemn someone most of us know very little about.Personally, I have heard more national news about the size, expense and overall

extravagance of the Presidents Inauguration, than I have ever heard about his actions andpolicies as a former U.S. Senator. This isnt to say that President Obama hasnt been an

active and credible politician, but we have just heard woefully little about the legislationhe participated in.

I rest my faith in this hope, a word used continuously during these presidentialelections, that our nations efforts to unify and respect one another will lead our nation to

a bright and prosperous future. It will likely take efforts similar to those made by Dr.Martin Luther King, Jr., demonstrating a willingness to represent what is right and

welcoming the consequences, that will inspire our President and our citizens to work torepair the broken parts of our country. Since it is widely recognized that no one person is

without faults, or blame, or guilt, it can also be observed that perhaps all the answers forour national and world crisis dont exist in the heart or mind of any one person, party or

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group, but rather in the consideration of the great mix of hearts and minds that occupyour fifty states. Recognizing the contributions of men such as Dr. King before him, who

helped foster principles of equality that resonated loudly on election day, we celebrateour nations forty-forth President, Barack Obama. While our nation still contends with

stark differences in policy, religion and ideology, we are united in a continuous effort to

abolish hatred, bigotry and racism by promoting freedom and justice within our countryand around the world. Let us also unite in an effort to greater understand the problemsthat need to be fixed in our country. Just as we are all American, we all recognize the

need for growth and change. What kind of change we represent is our newest challenge. Istand alongside my country and the millions of voters who have given it a voice. God

Bless America.