Tomorrow, Barack Obama will be president of the United States of America.
For painfully obvious reasons, to be able to write that on the day the nation celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a blessing most Americans didn't expect to see in their lifetime. It is a blessing, indeed.
But also for painfully obvious reasons - topped by a global economic crisis and two American wars - Obama's presidency must be about so much more than being the first African-American president.
Because of the tremendously high stakes and the great expectations Obama himself has set for his administration, America's 44th president must also be one of its greatest. The nation, and the world, are counting on it.
The country's economic future and standing in the world rest with how it handles the crises it faces. There appears to be no doubt that an almost unimaginable debt will be incurred to try to spend our way out of a financial freefall. The money must be spent, but it must be spent wisely, shrewdly and in a way that not only rescues our economy in the short term, but also in the long term. It is a tall task, indeed, one that requires great leadership.
For economic and foreign relations reasons, the nation's two wars - in Iraq and Afghanistan - must be ended, successfully and as quickly as possible. This must be accomplished without allowing escalated bloodshed in Iraq or Afghanistan, and without sparking further Middle East conflicts. Those are tall tasks, indeed, which require great leadership.
Americans also are counting on Obama to change the partisan gridlock in Washington, and to return our government to being one for all people, not just some. Our nation's youth, greatly responsible for Obama's election, have placed in him their faith in political change. He must not let them down, at risk of losing yet another generation to cynicism. Obama appears to have enormous political capital with Republicans and Democrats alike. He must not squander it. Those tasks are tall, indeed, requiring great leadership.
For all of these reasons, and more, America now requires greatness from its next president, Barack Obama. But it also requires greatness from all of us. Tuesday brings celebration in Washington and America. Wednesday, the work toward greatness must begin.
For painfully obvious reasons, to be able to write that on the day the nation celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a blessing most Americans didn't expect to see in their lifetime. It is a blessing, indeed.
But also for painfully obvious reasons - topped by a global economic crisis and two American wars - Obama's presidency must be about so much more than being the first African-American president.
Because of the tremendously high stakes and the great expectations Obama himself has set for his administration, America's 44th president must also be one of its greatest. The nation, and the world, are counting on it.
The country's economic future and standing in the world rest with how it handles the crises it faces. There appears to be no doubt that an almost unimaginable debt will be incurred to try to spend our way out of a financial freefall. The money must be spent, but it must be spent wisely, shrewdly and in a way that not only rescues our economy in the short term, but also in the long term. It is a tall task, indeed, one that requires great leadership.
For economic and foreign relations reasons, the nation's two wars - in Iraq and Afghanistan - must be ended, successfully and as quickly as possible. This must be accomplished without allowing escalated bloodshed in Iraq or Afghanistan, and without sparking further Middle East conflicts. Those are tall tasks, indeed, which require great leadership.
Americans also are counting on Obama to change the partisan gridlock in Washington, and to return our government to being one for all people, not just some. Our nation's youth, greatly responsible for Obama's election, have placed in him their faith in political change. He must not let them down, at risk of losing yet another generation to cynicism. Obama appears to have enormous political capital with Republicans and Democrats alike. He must not squander it. Those tasks are tall, indeed, requiring great leadership.
For all of these reasons, and more, America now requires greatness from its next president, Barack Obama. But it also requires greatness from all of us. Tuesday brings celebration in Washington and America. Wednesday, the work toward greatness must begin.
