The 44th President: Barack Hussein Obama

Today, the United States of America celebrated the triumph of equality as never seen before by swearing in the first African-American president named Barack Hussein Obama.

Today, the United States of America said "Yes" to a future of possibility. The United States of America said, "Yes" to all those still seeking an equal opportunity, still seeking prosperity in a time of financial crisis and still seeking a chance to pursue the American Dream.

Today, President Obama took an oath to protect the Constitution and reminded us why this moment will define history for years to come:

"This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed - why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath."

While some may see a form of demagoguery in President Obama, I see the fulfillment of America's destiny. The fervor that I witnessed in Washington, DC by the millions of people at the Inauguration was electric. Many fought through freezing temperatures to watch the culmination of 200 years of struggle to define what the United States of America really means - a nation of true opportunity and equality.

And while the Inauguration of President Obama represented many victories in the movement for equality, he also reminded us of how we got here and how we have to continue to fight against injustice saying:

"In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted - for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things - some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom."

We have tasted the sweet nectar of success in our country today, but let it serve as a example of how important it is to always fight for what is fair, what is right, and what may be difficult without ever losing sight of hope for victory.