At noon today this nation will bear witness to a historic event.

Barack Obama will become the 44th President of the United States.

Of greater historical significance, Barack Obama will become the 1st President of the United States with African American heritage.  There will undoubtedly be a number of people who wax poetic about this achievement, and it is absolutely nothing to shrug off.  It truly is a historic moment when the people of the United States vote for the candidate and the ideals they represent as opposed to the skin color that adorns them.  The whole “don’t judge a book by its cover” metaphor in action.

There are huge challenges for him to overcome.  Here at home the economy continues its downward spiral.  Across the world there is military conflict in addition to the economic crisis that has affected the global economy.  These are not challenges that he will be able to overcome with a sweep of his hand… and he knows this.  He knows he needs help and has assembled an extraordinary team of leaders in their own right and advisers, if not the best team on the basketball court, to help guide him in the decisions he will be making.

He will also need our help.  He will undoubtedly need the support of the American people as a whole, irregardless of party lines, to effect the change that he has promised with the decisions he will be making.  We all have a part to play in changing our nation… in changing ourselves.  This doesn’t mean we automatically and with a zombie-esque stare nod our head in compliance.  Faiqa put it in words better than I can.  Obama is now the man.  Still we should not look to belittle the accomplishments or expound on the failings that undoubtedly will occur.

The moment has come and let us savor it for what it truly is as opposed to what it appears to be, the swearing in of a man of color to the highest office in the land.  This is truly a moment of a significant shift in thinking of the American consciousness to desire what once was unimaginable to generations.  More importantly we should not just allow this moment to come and go.  We need to extend it on in both time and further its effect to those who continue to be disengaged from the main consciousness.  Savor the moment that has finally come but refuse to let it dissolve away.

And don’t forget to eat your cereal.