Newly installed President Barack Obama has hit the ground running.  Giving his first interview as President of the United States with an Arab news channel, he sent the signal he is an independent thinker and change is indeed on the way.  Already there are those who are displeased with his willingness to embrace all of humanity. Some religious leaders have taken offense at his equal acknowledgment of Muslims and nonbelievers in his inaugural address.  I suspect there are some who are just as displeased with his apparent enjoyment of music of all genres. 
 
According to his Facebook page, President Obama's favorite musicians are Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, Johann Sebastian Bach, and The Fugees.  He even carries Ludicrous around with him on his iPod.  Given President Obama's openness to a wide array of musical genres, is there any wonder there was such a broad range of musicians performing throughout the inaugural activities? 
 
Though not in the best voice, there was of course the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. And who wasn't touched by The First Couple dancing to Beyonce's rendition of Etta James' At Last?  Etta James reportedly was very pleased with Beyonce's performance. 
 
Other performers included jazz great, Herbie Hancock, classical vocalist, Renee Fleming, musicians from the Lesbian and Gay Band Association, hip hop artists, Jay-Z and Bow Wow,  rocker, Bruce Springsteen, country-western, Garth Brooks, virtuoso cellist, Yo Yo Ma, teen idols, the Jonas Brothers, R&B soul artist, Mary J Blige, acclaimed singer and writer, Stevie Wonder, etc., etc., etc..  This is a very minute sample of the musical greats who were invited to share their gifts and talents during this awe-inspiring moment in history.  There was something for everyone and the President and his family were enjoying it all.  The President's recognition and love of music as a whole is symbolic of his full acceptance of all of humanity. 
 
It is this kind of open and inclusive thinking that is giving the world hope that real change is on the way. Those who insist that all hip hop is negative, those who will forever find classical music boring, or those who can't find even one enjoyable country and western song may not really get the message our new president is offering.  Just as they emphatically shut out certain types of music, such persons may continue to condemn those who fail to embrace their religion.  They may never open up to relationships of any kind outside of their race.  They may insist gay people are sinners.  Any of the limiting views of life hard core conservative generally embrace may very well be theirs. In the words of Bill Cosby, come on people.
 
President Obama's fully inclusive inauguration set things in motion from the onset.  This is a new day.  It's time to open up and get on the Obama bandwagon.  New, more open and inclusive ways of thinking by all of humanity is the path stretching before us.  Get on board or be left behind.  
  
 Diane Brenda Williams, D.Min