A letter to my nieces and nephew

Darlings,

As I sat and watched history made last night, I could not help but think of you and how wonderful it is that, on the very first time you were asked to participate in choosing the next president of our beloved country, Barack Obama was elected. You will get to tell your children and grandchildren about what happened when you voted, how hope triumphed over fear, and justice overcame centuries of shameful degradation.

We inherit a nation that is capable of great good, and astounding evil, and I believe it is our duty, our high calling, to help bend the arc of history toward justice, freedom and peace. Today the work begins again. Today we put foundations on that castle in the sky. Today we work so that tomorrow children not go to bed hungry, so that tomorrow no one will have to make a home under a bridge or out of discarded cardboard boxes. Today we put hands and feet on Matthew 25's call to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and visit the captive, so that tomorrow hope stays alive.

I believe that change is possible, that transformation and renewal is real. The year before I was born, a man from Omaha, Nebraska, stood in front of a crowd and proclaimed his profound conversion from disdain and contempt towards those of another race to a deep recognition of the beauty and worth of all God's children, proclaimed aloud his hope for a better tomorrow and a world where all people would learn to respect one another. For his conversion to hope, Malcolm X was assassinated, as were Emmit Till, Jonathan Daniel, Dr. King and countless others. This time, pray God, hope will not be shot down. This time, we can bring about healing in the nation.

Yes we can.

Happy day after the election to each of you. Now, let's get to work.

Peace,

Anne Marie