Now is Not the Time to Stop. As you already know, we have a new President: Barack Obama. I was actually away at meetings on November 4th and 5th and had limited access to television and the internet. (I voted at 6am on Tuesday, before going out of town.) So I heard about the results of the election, but I really didn’t get to experience them.

When I returned home on Wednesday - somewhat exhausted from the trip - I watched and recorded the 1 hour, special edition of World News Tonight, with Charles Gibson . It was amazing to view the recounting of events from around the country and responses from around the world.

We have a new President… the first African American ever. History has now been made, but now it’s time for it to grow. This is only the beginning, as the real work of preparing to lead the United States of America from where we presently are, to a higher level of integrity, financial security and a positive international impact starts.

I responded to Phil Cooke’s blog post on Helping the World Make Sense of the Election , with a response about common solutions. At that point (Monday Novermber 3rd) we didn’t know who would be President. However, regardless of who, Democrats and Republicans will have to work TOGETHER to find common solutions to our common plight as citizens of this great country.

Now we know who our President is and this is even more true! Causing America to rise in integrity-filled prominence will take both parties working together. Also, America needs us - it’s citizens- to come together.

I’ll be honest, I haven’t voted since Bill Clinton’s first term. I’ve been disillusioned by many political processes for a long time. Many have told me that I should vote because our ancestors fought to get secure the right for us to vote. My response has been that they fought so that we would have the right to choose whether or not we would vote; because we as an African-American people were not allowed to vote. So I’ve chosen not to vote.

However, this presidential election has been very inspiring and I became determined to vote again. Once re-registered, I was ready. And then all the mud-slinging started and I wondered why candidates couldn’t just debate the issues and not have to try and put the other down to make themselves look good?

Fast forward to November 4th and we see record voter turnouts. We see dancing in the streets. We see crying and laughter around the world…

I say that now is not the time for us to stop. Barack Obama has been elected. Now is not the time to stop. Democrat and Republican politicians need to work together. Now is not the time to stop. Those aspects of bureaucracy that are unnecessary and ineffective need to be removed. Now is not the time to stop. Greed and selfishness needs to be uprooted. Now is not the time to stop. Our children need a strong educational system built on increased literacy, the Sciences, the Arts and creativity. Now is not the time to stop.  Our elderly need proficient care and resources. Now is not the time to stop. Employment and innovation need to increase in order to bring jobs back to America. Now is not the time to stop. We all need adequate health care. Now is not the time to stop. Tensions between different cultural and ethnic groups needs to decrease so genuine understanding can take place. Now is not the time to stop. We need to search our hearts… and repent from any selfishness, arrogance and prejudice and see one another as human beings in need of Love. Now is not the time to stop. We need to believe… not only in the abilities we possess, but even more so in GOD who endowed us with ability. Now is not the time to stop.

We all can make a difference. For America to rise… it will take all of us working TOGETHER. For those of us who have been inspired to take the important action to Vote. Now is not the time to stop. Don’t just leave all of the responsibility on President-Elect Obama and his cabinet. We must get involved. We must work for Change. We must look to see how we can make a difference where we are - so that we can journey to where our destiny lies. Let’s get involved. Let’s pray for our leaders. Let’s treat one another with respect. Let’s inspire one another to greatness! Now is not the time to stop!

-Allen Paul Weaver III -

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