Like so many other men and women in America, a couple of days ago I sat in my house excited, joyful, and thankful to be a witness to the first elected African American President in American Modern History. Like many of you, I was not only memorized by the amazing event, but for me personally, it was a great moment to see in America as we move forward into the 21st Century.
As I sat there like many other Americans watching the television screen during this historical event, I was highly engaged with the political pundits as the night progressed. Although there were many memorable comments made by the different political pundits, one of the key points that struck me the most during this amazing experience were the comments made about the impact of young voters on the presidential election. Over and over again on various networks, I consistently heard various political pundits talk about how young voters played a key role in the election and I even heard some political pundits talk about how President-Elect Obama would create jobs for members of this younger generation in his current administration.
Learning about the impact of young voters and the opportunities that will arise for many young men and women in America not only excited me, but caused me to think about a powerful book that I read several years ago entitled, The Fourth Turning. In this powerful book written by William Strauss and Neil Howe, these insightful authors talk about the different generational cycles in America and how each generation falls into a specific category. Surprising in 1997, they not only predicted in their book that our country was headed into the Crisis Cycle, but they predicted that this time of Crisis would begin in 2005. During these moments of Crisis in America, they not only talked about different problems that could arise during this period, but they also considered this emerging generation of young voters in America as the HERO Generation because they believed this would be the generation used to overcome these different challenges that would emerge in America.
After thinking about the different challenges and problems facing our nation at this point and the new era of leadership in America with President-Elect Obama, I could not help but begin to believe that we are living in this moment that was articulated by William Strauss and Neil Howe almost ten years ago in this excellent book entitled, The Fourth Turning. The reason I feel so strongly about this belief is because crisis is evident everywhere in America and months of extensive research on this emerging Generation in America has consistently revealed to me that many young men and women have become more civically engaged over the past few years, many want to make an impact in the world, many have a progressive mentality, and several desire to change the world, which I truly believe they will.
As Americans, I believe our next step forward during this new era in American history is not only to be a part of the change that we will see in many different arenas across America, but its to become leaders who will serve others in love and pursue the visions we have for a new and better America that will benefit and bless future generations to follow! As Mahatma Gandhi once said, "Be the Change You Wish to See in the World!"
