The Community Decided

Congratulations Barack Obama on this, your first day as President of the United States.

One of the mantras of social media is "The Community Decides," which simply means that the interactive discourse between people enabled by the Internet has the power to trump even the most artful hyperbole and spin.

The peaceful transition of power that took place on the steps of the U.S. Capital today culminates a journey that began with the first campaign speech in a democratic election process that at times seemed endless. Through our votes, throughout America, the people (AKA the community) decided on who will lead us as the head of government through the serious challenges ahead.

Those challenges, of course, are far bigger than any single person can solve. But not only has the community decided who will lead, the community is also speaking to how we want to be led. Even with storm clouds all around, this day feels bright and hopeful -- due in large measure to the rhetoric President Obama expressed in his inaugural speech…

"Our challenges may be new, the instruments with which we meet them may be new, but those values upon which our success depends, honesty and hard work, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism -- these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history.

"What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility -- a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character than giving our all to a difficult task. This is the price and the promise of citizenship."

Do these words inspire, motivate and empower? Do they reflect our hopes and ambitions? Do they resonate as authentic and true?

The community will decide.