By: Aaron Joseph. The president said it well when he intoned change at the memorial service held for those innocent souls; victim to what is finally being officially acknowledged as a culture of violence.

When Mr. Obama campaigned on the theme of change during his election campaign of 2008, it was catchy. He, just by his race – at the least, truly matched his words, and the sincerity of that single word “change,” rang true and caught fire. Mr. Obama also proclaimed “Change we can believe in,” as well as “Hope,” and “Yes we can.” The country overwhelmingly voted yes for that change, and placed its collective hope in Mr. Obama’s visions.

Four years and an election cycle later, that claim for change was seriously challenged. There was change, but many if not most did not see a positive change. Many had lost hope.

2012 was a watershed though, with the economy still slumping, unemployment high, and many unhappy with the new healthcare laws, or at least unhappy with the political clout and time spent on it, Mr. Obama went on to be reelected; for its political climate, unprecedented in American history.

“Forward,” was his 2012 reelection slogan, and Forward it is, as Mr. Obama prepares for his second inaugural next month. However, at last night’s memorial, the president said it well when he solemnly intoned, “We can’t tolerate this anymore. These tragedies must end. And to end them, we must change.”

This time, Mr. Obama was not using a campaign slogan, nor trying to win an election. The president meant change in the full sense of the word. “We will be told that the causes of such violence are complex, and that is true. No single law, no set of laws can eliminate evil from the world or prevent every senseless act of violence in our society, but that can’t be an excuse for inaction. Surely we can do better than this.”

“Yes We Can!”

A man running for office on a platform of Hope and Change has been twice elected to the world’s highest office. A common cause for change has sadly offered itself up by way of 26 individual sacrifices. No moral justification is required, no political opportunity must be searched; a cause for change has presented itself to a mournful society. Mr. Obama seized the moment, recognizing and proclaiming that change is required.

It is this author’s hope that this change can be for the better. That yes, America can once again be crowned in brotherhood, known for its city of freedom on a shining hill, unshackled from the fear of violence that at this point legally permeates so much of the American culture, aspiration and imagination.

As the president said so well last night: “Charlotte, Daniel, Olivia, Josephine, Ana, Dylan, Madeline, Catherine, Chase, Jesse, James, Grace, Emilie, Jack, Noah, Caroline, Jessica, Benjamin, Avielle, Allison, God has called them all home.

For those of us who remain, let us find the strength to carry on and make our country worthy of their memory. May God bless and keep those we’ve lost in His heavenly place. May He grace those we still have with His holy comfort, and may He bless and watch over this community and the United States of America.”

“Forward,” Mr. President, seize the moment, make it a change we can all hope and believe in.