A Letter to Henry

Dear Henry

Today is a historic day. Today we usher in a new set of promises, a new breath of hope. Today we inaugurate a new president.

Henry you will never know what it means to when we talk about the first black president. You may never really understand what racial tension was in our country. When you hear stories about the slavery, the civil rights movement or the daily challenges of race, you will probably look at all of us and say things like 'why didn't you do something about it?' or 'how could you let that insanity happen?'. I expect we will all be better for it.

Henry you will probably only ever read about the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq in history books, or watch them on TV just as I did with Korea and Vietnam. You probably will not really understand why we felt so strongly about taking the first steps into those countries, or why we are embarrassed by those wars now. I am hopeful that we will be better for that as well.

Henry you may never know the economic bluster and wealth of the last thirty years or the great crash of the past eighteen months. You may grow up in a time of temperance, regulation and challenge, but prosperity is in your grasp. You may look to the adults around you as fools playing with the prosperity of their children. I know that we all must be better for it.

The promise of America is not won or lost in elections. It soars in the eyes of our children, the strength of their parents and the foundation of a community built on shared experience and faith in humanity. Today promises a deep breath of that hope into the lungs of our economy, our government, our very society.

Mr. Obama takes office today. We wish him good fortune, wise council, temperance in the face of oppression and strong action at times of need. We wish him good luck as well, for we could all use a little of that today.

I tell you now that the only gifts I have are the strength of my hands, the sight of my eyes and the size of my heart, but they are all that any of us will need to care for our communities, our families and our loved ones.

Do not put your dreams on the shoulders of our leaders, but lift our leaders on the strength of your good works. In our times of trial there are no silver bullets or lottery tickets. Only sweat earned by honest work can be the currency of today. Let us all trade in that enduring market of honest efforts and shared success.

Son, today is a special day. It is a day of hope and healing, promise and community. Today is a day that I look at you and find the strength to work a little harder, care a little more and dream a little bigger.


With Love
Your Father