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In an opinion piece that appeared January 17, 2009, in The Wall Street
Journal, Colin Powell, former secretary of state under President George W. Bush,
wrote about President Barack Obama's "Renew America Together" program, a call
for all Americans to make an ongoing commitment to better the lives of others in
their communities and their country.
As this mirrors Kiwanis International's commitment to and passion for
service and leadership, we thought it fitting to share. The article is reprinted
with permission: Reprinted from The Wall Street Journal © 2009 Dow Jones &
Company. All rights reserved.
Let's Renew America Together
Everybody can be great,
because anybody can serve.
By COLIN POWELL
Next week marks a fresh start for our nation. Whatever one's political
leanings, each presidential inauguration is an opportunity for Americans to
renew the energy required to deal with the challenges we face-never never more
so than when the challenges we face are without precedent.
Over the course of their transition, President-elect Barack Obama and Vice
President-elect Joe Biden have spoken with confidence and acted with competence.
They've unveiled their plans for governing -- plans that recognize it will
require federal money to solve our economic problems at home, and diplomatic and
military skill to meet our obligations abroad.
But they also realize an equally important truth. While government has a role
to play in restoring the American dream at home and rekindling the dream that is
America abroad, there are limits to its ability to restore our sense of purpose
as a nation. That task falls to us. Particularly in hard times like these, we
are charged with living up to our shared responsibility to one another.
My experience is that in times of need, the American people recognize that
when one of our fellow citizens is suffering, those of us with the power to ease
or eliminate that suffering should come forward. This is not a time to retreat
to our homes and wait until it's safe to emerge. It is the time to give more, to
step forward and serve our fellow citizens, and to reach into the reservoir of
this nation's unrivaled capacity for good.
That's why, at this moment of great purpose, Mr. Obama has chosen the eve of
his inauguration to launch "Renew America Together," his call for all Americans
to make an ongoing commitment to better the lives of others in their communities
and their country.
It's fitting that he will do this on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a day when
we honor the legacy of a man who lived his life in service to others and
believed that "everybody can be great, because anybody can serve."
That's the beautiful simplicity of service. When I was a young man, I chose
to devote my life to serving my country. I spent decades under her flag as a
soldier, and later as a diplomat. In my time as a private citizen, my wife,
Alma, and I have made service a part of our lives by founding "America's
Promise," an alliance that connects our young people to mentors who teach them
the skills they need to grow.
Each of these mentors proves that King was right. You don't have to wear the
uniform of this country to serve others. You don't have to work in government.
And you don't have to start a foundation. At a time when so many of our
countrymen are in need, everyone has the power to help.
Pause for a moment, and ask yourself what you can contribute to the life of
this nation. Perhaps you can find an hour each week to volunteer in a soup
kitchen or help a child learn to read. Maybe you and your friends can spare an
afternoon a month to clean up your local park or prepare care packages for our
soldiers stationed in far-flung corners of the globe.
With our hectic lives, it might seem daunting to find convenient means of
serving others
in a way that matters to you. That's why Mr. Obama's team has
unveiled an exciting new
tool to facilitate that connection.
USAservice.org is an online community that makes service easy and accessible.
Even
amidst the busiest of schedules, there is always a moment to log on and
find a cause you
care about in your own community. It's also easy for
organizers to post and publicize
projects. Already, Americans have used
USAservice.org to create more than 5,000 events
across the country.
What these participants will discover, if they haven't already, is that
service is a two-way
street of mutual benefit. By enriching the lives of
others, you get back more than you give.
Barack Obama is asking us to join him on Monday in making a renewed and
enduring
commitment to enriching the lives of others. If we answer that call,
I have every
confidence that we as a people will ignite a new national sense
of purpose necessary to
meet the great need of this hour.
Mr. Powell was secretary of state (2001-2005) under President George
W.
Bush.