"We honor them not only because they are the guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service -- a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves."

Just when I was about to complain about the cold, I looked across the way to the solemn statues of the Korean War Memorial, frozen in time, marching forever in the freezing elements of some foreign land where they were sent to offer their lives on our behalf. I thought about how cold they might have been marching on some bitter winter morning, half a world away from the warmth of home and family, not sure if they would live to be there again. I wondered what they thought about the concepts of patriotism and sacrifice. I wondered what they thought their contribution to America's future was. And I couldn't help but wonder, what is our contribution?

We cannot be reminded enough that as we enjoy the luxury of being able to complain about a few hours in the cold, someone is about to die for us, someone is about to take his last steps on his legs, someone is about to forget what it was like to see the world through eyes not clouded by the memories of the horrors of war. Whatever anyone may think about the wars in which we are engaged, those that serve do so because they promised to do what our civilian leadership thought was necessary to protect America. They risk life and limb not just for the cause of the moment, but for a greater democratic ideal.

"What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them, that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply."

I would like to think that if the cause were just, and if my country needed me to, I would be willing to risk my life as well. But that day will probably never come. And as hard as I have worked to earn what I have, there is no escaping the fact that most of it was handed to me by accident of birth on this corner of the planet. In the vastly predominant human experience hard work and ingenuity are a mere prerequisite to survival. Here they are almost surely a guarantee of success.

What happened on Tuesday was the culmination of something exceedingly rare: a positive ideal fueled by the common aspirations of millions of people. Revolutions are born from this indefinable force. Only the pettiest cynic is still thinking about the phenomenon as "drinking the Kool-Aid" or "worshiping the celebrity messiah." Whether you like Obama or not, he is at this point an agent, a conduit, for ideas much greater than himself or any man or woman. He is simply the spark. He was the right kind of person at the right time, and a million things fell into place for his success to be possible. He acknowledges as much.

"To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history, but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist".

If enough people get behind an idea, it will surely become reality. This is so because much of what we consider established in life is only real because enough people collectively believe it to be. Think about borders. Or laws. Or currency. Or government. If tomorrow everyone believed that there were no wars, there would be none. At this moment we have a choice: seize the opportunity to transform an idea into reality, or be part of the force that deflates the idea into a gimmick.

Most of us have not or will not be called to risk our lives for American ideals. But we have all been called to action by our leadership and by the moment. We have been asked to sacrifice our time in service to the community, to take responsibility for our actions, to help others, and to take part in holding our government accountable. It seems like such a small price to pay. And yet many will skip the tab. If it would have been any warmer on Tuesday I might not have grasped what Obama meant when he referred to being on the wrong side of history.