Last week was filled with momentous occasions, which will forever live in the history of this country. The smooth and orderly transition from one president to another on Inauguration Day, which people in the United States take for granted, is beyond the comprehension of people in many countries around the world.
Inauguration Day followed after the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, a day set aside to recognize the slain civil rights movement leader. The fact that for the first time in the history of the United States, an African-American was sworn in as president of the United States was not lost on those who packed the Washington Mall to be part of the momentous historic occasion, or watched or listened to events as they unfolded. For those who have experienced or had family members who experienced discrimination due to their race, the day was even more significant.
Then just a few days after the inauguration, the March For Life was held in Washington, marking the 36th anniversary of the tragic day when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to legalize abortion in Roe v. Wade. Thousands came from throughout the country to join together in the march to the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court Building. The rights of the unborn will not and cannot be forgotten. Abortion remains one of the ongoing tragedies that exist in this great country.
The challenges facing our country and our new President Barack Obama are tremendous. When the campaigns started so many months ago, few could imagine that so many critical problems and crises would emerge for this new president and Congress to address. Two ongoing wars, the financial crisis on Wall Street, the collapse of major financial institutions and the emergency bailout of the banking industry, the crisis in Gaza and other parts of the Middle East, the automobile industry hovering on the brink of disaster - and the list goes on.
People everywhere are hurting. Jobs are tougher and tougher to obtain; families are hurting.
Still in the midst of all this gloom there remains hope. Some of us may remember when black people were barred entrance to public amusement parks. They remember when places had separate water fountains - one for white people, one for black people. They remember when black people were not allowed to sit on public buses, at lunch counters or on the main floor in movie theatres. They remember when it was possible to be beaten up because of the color of your skin, and thrown in jail for protesting injustices.
The new president and Congress have their work cut out for them. They need our prayers. They need the guidance of our heavenly Father. The U.S. has come a long way, but we still have a way to go.
As we celebrate Catholic Schools Week, we recognize for our young people, the presidency has changed. They are living the dream Martin Luther King Jr. spoke about so many years ago.