AN OMEN

It was an omen. The world watched and was amazed as the plane glided on to the water. We couldn't believe our eyes when we saw the photos of all those people standing on the wings. We couldn't believe our ears when the reporters said that "no one died".

It was an omen. It was a good omen that the media could not ignore. We all know there are others - good ones that is. But we never hear about them. This one was just too big, too newsworthy, too miraculous. It was the omen that set the stage for a new week and a new year.

This omen was the uplifting event that put the country in an even better psychological mood than before. Today we will see countless examples of enthusiasm and energy, and empowerment. These things would be there anyway - but the events of last week make them just that much better.

Today we will witness history and we will be sent on a new journey to make our country better. We must not falter. We must persevere. We must go at it for the long haul and not disappear as fast as the sound bytes. The journey will be long and hard, but if we stay with it, the end will be a better, stronger country than we have dared to hope for in the past. end