Our Diversity is Our Strength

The observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States this week provide the perfect time to reflect upon where our country is and where we want the nation to go as a new era in American politics begins. With regard to race relations and civil rights, our country has traveled light years from that day in 1955 when an African-American civil rights activist named Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alamama, bus to make way for a white passenger, a prelude to the civil rights struggles of the 1960s that thrust Dr. King to the forefront of the Civil Rights movement.

The inauguration of Mr. Obama as the nation's first African-American is, in large part, a fulfillment of Dr. King's vision for our country when he declared during the March on Washington that "I Have a Dream." Although the election of a black man as president of these great United States is an advance that many African-African Americans and members of other racial groups never thought they would see, much work needs to be done to continue the progress that has been made for Dr. King's "dream" to be fully realized.

To me, we are all children of God, each a unique creation unlike anyone else who has been graced with the breath of life. By realizing that our Lord created us all in His image and likeness, we can begin to understand that every human being, no matter what the color of his skin, his socio-economic status, his religious affiliation, or his political persuasion, is precious in God's sight and created to use the special skills and talents with which we have all been blessed to fulfill God;s purpose for our lives as an integral part of His Master Plan. Despite the many differences that God has given us as individuals and as a humanity, in our hearts we are all the same. We are all closer to each other than we think.

As a new American presidential administration takes office, let's pray that God will guide and direct our leaders in tackling the economic crisis and the myriad of other problems burdening our country today. I pray too that we will set an example for the world and return America to the God in whom our Founding Fathers professed and placed their trust in establishing this great nation. Only when we will give God His rightful place as our first priority both as individuals and as a country will we be able to truly address the challenges that our country faces, move our country forward in race relations, and fully bring to reality the American Dream.

As Martin Luther King, Jr. once said "I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear."

As we ponder the meaning of those words, let's all strive to lovingly help each other bear our burdens and work together, ever seeking God's direction, to lift our country from moral, economic, social, and political despair into which it has sunk.

God bless American...and you, my friends!

Richard