It seems so contrived for me to say, “Today is a momentous day!” or something equally trite.  As if an event as historic as the swearing in of Barack Obama as our new President can be distilled down into a simple adjective or sentence.  And yet, as I watched Obama give his speech this morning, I knew that this was something that I had to write about.  Those who’ve read my previous entries know about my close encounter with our new President.  Yet in all honesty, I am not an Obama-fanatic like certain people in my family (you know who you are).  Yes, I voted for Obama last November.  But it wasn’t as if I blindly filled in his circle based solely on the man’s transcendent oratory skills.  In fact, on certain matters of public policy I tend to disagree with our new President.  But in reading his book, and studying his record, I am convinced that there is no one else that I would rather have lead our country. 

Our world is filled with so much uncertainty, not simply in matters of foreign policy and endless wars, but across an entire spectrum of issues from the environment to the economy.  Things are no longer simply black and white, good and bad.  It’s not just the good guy Americans vs. the bad guy terrorists.  Now we have “bad guys” like Bernie Madhoff, who has stolen more money from charities and individuals than even the worst of bank robbers.  And amid the disaster in real estate markets, people are playing the blame game with a remarkable frenzy, pointing fingers at the irresponsible mortgage brokers, investment banks, and, let’s be honest, homeowners.  We’re facing a global economic meltdown that has caused iconic American corporations to beg for a bailout or worse yet, shut their doors.  And amid all this chaos, we’ve basically thrust Obama into the role of savior.

Obviously, no one can know for sure whether Obama can indeed bring America back to the prosperity of years past.  And though I am optimistic that Obama can truly affect change during his Presidency, I think it’s important that we exercise restraint before we start anointing him the next FDR.  Not because I doubt him or his abilities in any way, but rather because it’s not fair to put such high expectations on anyone.  If you look at a consensus list of the top 5 presidents of US history, I would argue that the challenges Obama currently faces rival those of these past Presidents.  I was so excited to see Obama get elected President.  And I truly believe that he will go down as one of the greatest Presidents in the history of the US.  But if he can accomplish even part of what he has promised us, he will still be remembered as a great president. 

I don’t envy the task Obama has in front of him: fighting two wars, trying to stimulate an economy that is currently teetering between recession and depression, figuring out a way to reduce energy dependence without further hurting the environment, fixing health care and social security, and doing all this while balancing the needs of different constituencies, all with their own competing agendas.  But in spite of these challenges, I do know that there is no one else that I’d rather trust to guide us through this difficult time.    

So as Obama finally steps into the White House today and sees the daunting task before him, I hope the rest of the world will give him time to get our country back on track.  And if it takes a year, two years, or even his entire first term, that’s okay.  The United States won’t be fixed in a day.  And I’d rather Obama take his time to make sure everything gets done right.  After all, it’s not like he has big shoes to fill…