"...Out of relative obscurity, discover the mission, fulfill it or abandon it"

There have been 2 moments in my 2 decades on this earth when I have felt a real connection to my country. #1 being September 11 #2 today. It's another beautiful 70 degree day in Chicago, something that never occurs in November, so I decided to go for a run. Grant Park has been gated off from Roosevelt to Monroe, Michigan to Lakeshore. I ran the perimeter of the Park and observed the people, the media, and the security. People are walking, laughing, talking, and participating. There has been so much hype about riots and the possibility of deaths that it's refreshing to see people happy and relaxed.

The whole notion of rioting seems completely ridiculous to me.
I truly believe that everything in life happens for a reason. I have lived by this thought process since I was young a child and I feel this same way about the election...no matter who wins. It will be a great and exciting time in America's history if Obama wins, but if he doesn't win his goals for change don't have to stop with the end of the election. We live in a Democratic nation...that means we the people have power. Why are we relying on one person to change everything? Change begins within each one of us. As a nation we should be united and work toward the change we want to see...we can't always wait around for a revolutionary figure to come along. If we riot tonight, if we get upset that just means we are giving up on change. Wouldn't Barack want this night to be peaceful and just? If people fight, or kill they are abandoning everything Obama says he stands for and makes me question if they ever really believed in what he preaches.
So for tonight I challenge America to be adults, to be responsible, respectful, peaceful, and begin creating change.

Peace and Love