Thoughts After An Historical Election

I hear a lot about change these days. For all the rhetoric about the economic crisis, health care reform, ending the war on terror etc...., I guess I just don't see how the United States is positioned for change. There is "real change" that goes much deeper than political parties, the kind of change that created the United States, shifting power from a tyrant to the people. There is also candy change, the kind that politicians hand out for free to all the people that want to feel good now, but ends in promises deferred and democracy unfulfilled. When the sugar rush is gone we are all left with a stomach ache. America is still the land of opportunity and it's the responsibility of Americans (not politicians), to do something about it. Change is one of the greatest opportunities of all and if we don't become more flexible as a nation, circumstances will affect change rather than the passion, dreams and will of the people. But how will "real change" take place?

The "real change" begins when a generation asks why. I may be an optimist, but I'm not a fool and the chances that the baby boomer and X generations will become the catalysts of "real change" for America are slim to none. It's not impossible, it's just not likely. The results of these generations have been broken homes, failing education, corrupt business practices, greed based health care, shady politics, religiosity and general disregard for the truth as long as enough money is placed into the right hands. I'm in the generation that followed X and is still trying to find out exactly what it represents. Some call us generation Y and I like that because that's exactly what we do, we ask Y. Change begins when we pause, look around and ask "why does it have to be like this?" The truth is that "it" never has to be a certain way because as Americans we have the freedom to recreate our reality and the liberty to live it out. The baby boomers defined the rules, the X's defied them and the Y's are trying to figure out why the rules were made in the first place. I don't believe the folly of past generations was malicious, we all do the best with what we have. However, I do believe it is our responsibility to consider the decisions that have governed our Nation up to the present. I'm not inferring that the Y generation is going to save the world, just pause long enough to figure out it's broke, take responsibility and begin to do something about it; not for fame or money, but just because it's right. Unfortunately, I don't believe my generation has the patience to follow through, but we can get the ball rolling for our kids. The truth is that "real change" may take anywhere from 1 minute to 1 century depending on the circumstances. Time is not the enemy, patience & perseverance are. As a nation we need to stop handling domestic and global issues with the information age "I want it now" mindset and begin to plan for the long-run. Which brings me back to the promise of change right now by our politicians; these men & women are involved in a system built around power and greed, not creating positive change. I'm not suggesting that they are evil, they're just people trying to make a living. But real change includes restructuring industry and ruffling the feathers of those who have built a comfy life talking about it. That means change won't come as long as these individuals are allowed to continue with business/politics as usual. It feels good to embrace a marketing campaign for "Change" in 2008 for Obama or McCain, but they too are using a system that won't allow it to happen (no matter how pure their motives), if they weren't they'd be using free press to campaign instead of exorbitant marketing budgets in the hundreds of millions in the middle of a global economic crisis. Let's face it, the system is broke and so is the nation's financial backbone. When the people begin to ask why in a unified voice, not because of campaign hype, but based on factual concern, America may not like what it finds, but who cares? The people will have the choice to actually affect the kind of change that's only been superficially discussed until now and that rocks!

I believe in this country and the ability for future generations to embrace real change. It won't be easy and it will most likely not happen in the term(s) of a single president. So let us reason together to create a better way, exemplifying patience and perseverance from one generation to the next in order to create a culture of real change. May God give us the knowledge to tell the difference, the understanding to embrace the difference and the wisdom to make a difference. If we made America, we can change it together.