The Endicott Enquirer News from the Southern Tier

An Open Challenge to President-elect Obama

Mr. Obama, With unprecedented popularity and influence within the 20 - 30 year old age bracket in the United States, it is time you harness that energy and drive your vision of change into our local communities and demographics. This is not a partisan effort, nor an effort that favors liberal or conservative thinking. It is a movement and idea that reconnects Americans with their heritage and communities that is needed now more than ever. We need to rediscover what makes this country great, we need to see the principles of what it means to be an American in everyday life. To this end I challenge you to push us towards a goal of involvement as Jack Kennedy asked us all to do over forty years ago.

1. Establish state level service commissions - We need organizations that promote service within our communities, this can't just be through social media or the Internet. We need people on the ground engaging the youth to do more for the places in which they live. You would be amazed at what we can do if you ask us. We believe in your message, hold us to account and you will not be disappointed. All we ask is that you establish the framework for us to work within and recognize us for our efforts.

2. Encourage state and local governments realize the value of a mobilized citizenry - We can move mountains if you ask us, but if you don't ask and inspire us to do so you will never realize this goal. There are vast untapped resources of human capital in our communities that have never been recognized because institutions do not understand how to reach them or understand that people want to be involved. In this economy, in this recession, we must learn to rely on each other more than ever because that is the American way. Help us become involved by making sure our public servants understand that which you already do. 

3. Don't settle for less than our best - You will need to push us to continue our service, challenge us to do more with less, set forth lofty goals and show us the way to achieve them. We are asking you to push us to do more, my generation is asking you to push us as people who want to live up to the memory of our fathers and our grandfathers. We aren't soft, we just haven't been challenged like they were but now is the time for the challenge. We encourage to publically motivate us, call on us in speeches to do more and show us what can be done by average Americans.

4. Realize what you have done - Your platform of change has not only gotten you elected to the highest office in our country but has inspired masses of people who need hope. Don't underestimate what hope does to people or what kind of strength it will give them . Despite what others were saying in the campaign, the concept of hope counts for more than many other tangible promises or goods. Hope can inspire people to do great things and that is what you have brought to us. Realize this reality and use it to our country's advantage but do not take advantage of us. If you learn to harness this power and focus it on the betterment of our society we will once again be the pinnacle of what it means to be a free and democratic society.

These are my thoughts Mr. Obama, from a 26 year old who has never had the chance to be inspired by anyone like I have during this election. There are millions other like me waiting for you to lead us to the next great era of service and prosperity in this country. We want what every generation of Americans have before us; a safe place to live that is prosperous and not afraid of ambitious people willing to work hard to achieve their dreams. We are waiting Mr. Obama just say the word.