A Time to Dream. A Time to Act

We live in confusing times. Raging wars, corruption and greed, economic crises and yet there is an air of optimism, stirred by the ability of the human mind to reach for hope that outweighs even the direst of circumstances.

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January 20th, 2009 marked the beginning of something new and something different. The election of the first African American president of the United States. I remember back home in discussions with friends, commenting on how, yeah this would eventually happen, however not in our lifetime. But as man proposes and God disposes; it will be said about this time we live in that people gathered together, whether in the streets of Washington, around projectors in city centers and on college campuses or simply in front of their TVs at home all around the globe to share a moment. A moment that inspired a generation.
Sadly, I could not be in D.C. and envy those who could. I found myself walking around campus with a calm euphoria after the inaugural address. There was a silent energy around and curious smiles on faces of people who walked by. This euphoria is transient, it will blow over like all other such feelings; what must remain however is the resolution we each came to within that period of elation.

And so it is that finally, we witnessed the fulfillment of the dreams of Martin Luther King Jr. who in August 1963 rendered the scenery on which the portrait Obama’s presidency has now been painted. His story is not an inspiration to Americans alone, but to anyone on the face of the globe who dares to dream beyond their circumstances.

I recall a sentiment that proposed we as individuals need not dream of things too out of the ordinary. I differ from such a sentiment. Dream as far as your minds will carry you, but dream within the confines of what is achievable. As the words of Kipling state “Let not dreams be thy master.” Hence we must act, and there is no better or more opportune time than now.

Without getting too carried away by all the buzz, it was important to take away a message from the address. In this almost twenty minute address, Obama was able to touch on those things that mattered most in the world we live in today. He mentioned the problems of energy, the economy and addressed world leaders, urging them build up their nations rather than destroy. His address also exhibits a willingness to talk with and not talk to heads of other nations. This extends to leaders of Muslim nations to whom he expresses his resolve to forge a new relationship based on ‘mutual respect and mutual interest.’ A statement he has followed up with by granting his first interview as president to Muslim news channel al-Arabiya. Watch Interview

Also highly significant in Obama's speech was his note on service. He highlights the courage of servicemen and women in different parts of the world, and uses it as a symbol to exemplify the ‘spirit of service’ that must ‘now inhabit us all’.

As Dr. King stated “ an individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of humanity." Hence, it is our duty; to see beyond our personal concerns, to build something of benefit for those less opportune as well as a sustainable legacy for those that follow.

Granted Obama faces a daunting task, especially as his task is focused on humanity. The question however, is not whether he can execute the duties of his office unscathed by the criticisms of the ‘cynics’, but how he will rise above those moments and focus his attention on the things that matter without feeding the flames of negativity and how we as individuals and as groups work to make this possible. A chance, better still an opportunity, now presents itself for us to rally ourselves around the ideals of service. Whilst we dream of a better future, we must begin the process now of acting not only towards achieving our personal goals but as King notes, addressing the concerns of humanity.

This we can achieve individually as well as collectively. With this unified energy, great things are bound to happen. And so, while going about the daily routines of our lives, let us collectively engage in service initiatives that alleviate the conditions of those who may not be as fortunate as we are. For such things there is a reward, the best of which is intangible.