Ask not what your country can do for you...

So here it is - a day filled with so much optimism and hope, and the desire for change. Let us not put too much hope on one man. Let us not weigh down his shoulders with the expectations we all seem to have for him.

Let us help.

The oath taken by two men today is one that I hope that every American would also take:

I do solemnly swear that I will... to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.

You don't need to join one of our esteemed branches of military to defend the constitution. First, you can read the constitution and work to uphold the constitution. Perhaps you can preserve the constitution by offering your services to those who have fought to defend it. For more information, please check VFW or Veterans Affairs.

A couple points in particular stuck out to me as part of Obama's speech. First:

"the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness"

We all deserve a chance to pursue our full measure of happiness, but implied in this is the idea that each individual has to work to obtain that happiness. You can't sit back and wait for happiness to come to you, or play the part of a victim. We each must get up and work to obtain our happiness.

Secondly:

"For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies"

The difference between today and yesterday is quite simple - there have been a number of personnel changes in Washington D.C. In contrast, we the American people are largely the same. The change in administration may be enough to truly allow change to happen, but we as a populace can certainly facilitate that change.

Let change come, but let us also take responsibility and do what we can to help that change.