Leadership Vacuum

For the past forty-five years, this country has wallowed and foundered in the throes of a leadership vacuum in most things that are measured to determine a country's standards in relation to others. We have lost our leadership in most areas of economic strength, medical advances, health care, education, and housing. There is a long list of things that measure a Nation's standing among other nations, and where we were once at or near the top in most positive categories, we have now faded to just beyond the horizon of our former greatness,

I will not attempt to point a finger and accuse any one thing for this erosion of this country to a level we used to think of third world or emerging countries. An atmosphere of pessimism has blanketed the whole country. We no longer have the respect and admiration of our peers. We have differing groups divided along the lines of their ideologies. The words negotiate and compromise is no longer used.

Church membership and attendance is at an all time low. We have become obsessed with those of alternate lifestyles that we haven't taken care of our own.

Fortunately we have been given a second chance. We have the opportunity now to show each other and the world what we are made of. A breath of fresh air has blown through this country which can have a purging and cleansing effect if we will take advantage of it, and renew our spirit of cooperation with one another, and put aside our hate and greed.

Many have called this country a Christian nation, and indeed it can be, but in being so we must practice tolerance and understanding of other religions and ethnic groups as well. Our commonality is that we are all Americans, and as such should present unity, leadership, and strength to the rest of the world. This should not be done in arrogance or superiority, but with the confidence that we know who we are.

We have a lot of fences to mend, and broken promises to keep. All of us are ready for change, and we must be sure it is the right and most effective change.

Next Tuesday, January 20, 2009, we will start with a new page in American History, one unprecedented. An era many thought would never come. It is up to each of us, regardless of any stereotypes to do our best to help this country succeed. It does not all rest on the shoulders of one person, but is the responsibility of us all. Our future depends on it.