Today is Barack Obama's Inauguration Holiday. Thank You Mr. President!

Barack Obama’s journey to become the 44th Commander in Chief is an original great American story. A rag to personal riches plot filled with drama, suspense, and a determination against all odds spans two countries and one island. His journey reads like scripts from inspirational movies such as “Rocky” “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington”. The political world first noticed him as the skinny kid with a funny name at the 2004 Democratic Convention. Four years later, his eloquent prose, steadfast confidence, tech savvy campaigns and cool resolve swept the Democratic Primaries, the nation and the world. His powerful messages of hope and change spread like wildfire, winning blue states and garnering the highest popular vote in history. His promise and practice for inclusiveness and a transparent government promised a fresh new beginning in government for an America that’s tired and ashamed of the politics of usual. People of all ages voted for the first time because they felt truly connected to a man who is one of them.

Seven years of George W. Bush’s propaganda and fabrication for his justification of the “war on terrorism” has angered Americans and the world as evidenced by his plummeting approval ratings. Obama's rating is at an all time high of 83% according to the Gallup poll. Bush and his financial team also failed in fiscal accountability last spring, when they claimed a B grade on their math report card instead of an F. The following quarter, unemployment rose to the highest in American history as retail giants and corporations toppled like the Domino Effect. Major financial institutions and the Big 3 threatened serious economic ramifications if America did not financially dig them out of the quicksand.

The public lost its confidence and trust in the systems, but Obama woke everyone up and re-gained their trust in government. He’s energized generations of people from all walks of life, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation and socio-economic status. He firmly said in his inaugural address that he’ll bring the country back. A big slap to Bush’s poor management of the country.The numbers show a complete picture of the magnitude and diversity of the inauguration as the historic event broke unprecedented records across the board.

- Approximately two million people braved the cold weather in Washington, DC for hours with no complaints.

- 50 different law enforcement agencies were on watch. Four times the number of past inaugurations.

- More than 13,000 people participated in the parade.

- Many people with official invites were barred or turned away at checkpoints due to overcrowding.

- New Yorkers stopped in their tracks, glued to inauguration proceedings on the Jumbo Tron display in New York’s Time Square.

- On the Facebook/CNN Inauguration coverage, Facebook members watched live streaming video of the event and wrote public message (“wall posts”). As of 2pm (PST), more than 1,255,114 members were online and wrote 131,600 wall posts. More than 67 countries from every continent were represented from Sri Lanka and Singapore to Lebanon and the Ukraine.

- One third of the attendees watching the parade inside the makeshift tent with the Obama’s and the Biden’s are minorities, a very colorful and different makeup during Bush’s inauguration.

- Contingents from Honolulu, Delaware and Gay and Lesbian marching bands made their first appearance at the parade.

Obama’s DNA represents a rainbow coalition and he’s proud of it. Proud that he’s one of us, that we’re all in one. “We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews, Hindus and nonbelievers”. Who cannot relate to this?

The solemn and humbled Obama doesn’t want America to forget the many brave immigrants and souls who paved the way for all of us. He says we cannot sit on our laurels. He paid tribute to those who "toiled the sweatshops, plowed the hard earth and endured the lash of the whip… this is the journey we continue to today”. With all the uncertainty and pressure that Obama must face, he’s optimistic with caution. He said America’s challenges are real and many, “but know this America, they will, be met”.

In a time of foreign unrest and mounting military casualties, Obama extended inclusiveness beyond the borders. "To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect”, Obama said. "To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing through dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history, but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.”

The last line to this chapter of an amazing and evolving story says it all for you, me, your neighbor and for the stranger on the street from “A man whose father 60 years ago couldn’t have been served at a public restaurant can now take the public oath”. Thank you very much Mr. President.