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Barack Obama today became the 44th president of the United States of America. What a monumental and historic day this is.
This is a day that should make America, and all Americans, proud — no matter what political leanings people have. Obama’s election in November and today’s swearing in are testament to the ideals this country was founded on.
Though it took us 232 years to get to this point, what happened today reaffirms America’s belief that, indeed, all men are created equal and should be treated as such. The divides created by race have existed far too long. Today, this great melting pot of a democracy has reason to be proud.
Obama’s candidacy and his campaign opened some old wounds about race in this country. Some people were fearful. Many just not sure. People were divided — even The Observer’s editorial board split down the middle on who to endorse. But the issues that developed were reminders of what this nation, conceived under slavery but committed to freedom, had long strived to overcome. A majority of Americans saw Obama’s message of hope, of a need for change, as something worth believing in. That he is of African descent likely didn’t factor into their decision. But the fact that he is does make this day even more significant.
Today, as President Obama begins facing what are the toughest challenges America has faced since Franklin Roosevelt took office in the Great Depression, a solid majority of Americans are standing with their new president. Hope is riding high.
President Obama has promised a new kind of government, one that will look for common ground, tries to move past the partisan debates of the past few decades, one that represents everyone. There will be naysayers who won’t like anything he does. But as he reminded us today in his inaugural address, we are all in this together. That getting beyond these trying times will involve sacrifice. That we need to usher in a “new era of responsibility.’’ Most importantly, Obama reminded us that we are all Americans.
And never was that message better exemplified than by what transpired today. What a historic day for this great country.
We wish you well, President Obama.
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Opinion 
