Obama Personifies King's Dream

If Martin Luther King Jr. was alive today he would be 80.

We wonder what King would be thinking about on this particular day - an epic one in this country's history - when Barack Obama is sworn in as the 44th president of the United States. The fact that Obama becomes the first African-American to attain the highest office in the land and become the leader of the Free World would certainly not have been lost on King.

King, the leader of the civil rights movement in America who was assassinated April 4, 1968, was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977.

Perhaps the diversity among those who voted for Obama last November would please King.

Obama appealed to people of many ethnic backgrounds that boosted him to a convincing victory over John McCain.

King might think this country is over due having an African-American - or a woman for that matter - as president.

That Obama is an eloquent speaker and a charismatic individual would make King proud. There are those who might say King shared those same qualities.

As far as race relations in this country, King might be hopeful. They are better than 40 years ago when he tragically died, but more work has to be done in that area.

It is that feeling of hope that Americans share on this historic day. They want to believe that Obama can be the agent of change that he has talked about so much over the past couple of years.

Maybe he can. He will be lauded as one of the great presidents ever if he does.

Obama realizes it will be difficult. He acknowledged as much Sunday during a speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial.

Americans are nervous and worried. The stumbling economy is on everyone's mind. The housing crisis is still a major problem. The Middle East remains volatile.

Those problems will be set aside - at least for one day - to celebrate a new president.

Although estimates vary, there might be as many as 3 million people show up for the inauguration festivities today in Washington, D.C.

That's an incredible number of people who will contend with the elements - it is not forecasted to be chamber of commerce weather in the nation's capital - the crowds and commotion. There are those who don't have tickets to anything, but just want to be a part of something special.

It is too bad that Martin Luther King Jr. is not around to witness it.