Americans can be optimists again

For generations, Americans were known as optimists. We believed that the future would always be better. Today, I don't think we can make that claim as a country. We have lost our faith. Polls showed, during the 1990s, a majority of Americans were pessimistic about their lives improving, even considering the long cycle of growth. In that vein, Americans started seeing a bleak future for their children. The American dream is no longer alive. And that is why, I believe, we have embraced change so effusively. We hunger for the optimism and hope for the future.

The trauma of 9/11 has further undermined our sense of reality and practically addled our brains. We weren't prepared and were so shocked that we have yet to recover. The stress and strain of adjusting to a reality where someone hit us hard, people want to hurt us as a nation, it's a bit much for us, apparently. It has given us great doubt, both self-doubt and doubt of others.

Doubt is a dark place, and creates anger and irrational fear. Doubt also creates anxiety and depression, which make it nearly impossible to experience hope and optimism. Mr. Obama has captured the moral high ground in such a way that we, the people, are experiencing hope once again. What we are experiencing might be considered irrational elation, in fact, considering all the inauguration hoopla. But, in fact, it's a freeing moment of relief from the doubt and trauma-aftermath we have been experiencing for more than 7 years. The shadow of 9/11 has lingered over this nation for far too long.

Naturally, many see ample grounds for skepticism. The first days have been filled with talk and executive orders and it's the beginning of the beginning. For a few moments we can embrace hope and be optimists again. Somehow, Obama has bypassed conventional organizing principles, organized labor, party machines and religion. He has reached out and into the hearts of many, many people. I hope and pray we can put our faith in this man and in his vision and in his strength. So much of our optimism depends on him.