America’s Big Day

The stock market is closed today, but it is still a big day for America.

Today is not only the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day holiday but also marks the inauguration of Donald J. Trump as our 47^th United States President.

As many of our readers know, my personal story is a very AMERICAN one.

My father's family is a mixture of European (German and Scottish) immigrants and Mexican (Spanish and Pueblo Indian.) The Mexican side of the family has been in the territory of the modern United States since the late 1600s. My father was a true child of the rough and tumble-American West.

My mother, Selva, was born in Uruguay, a South American country. She left in the late 1960s, and my uncle was imprisoned, and my grandparents exiled as part of a military dictatorship.

She raised me out West, and we struggled economically.

Throughout our trials, though, she instilled a sense of optimism in me. With a positive outlook (and a willingness to do the work to back it up), she believes anything is possible.

In my opinion, this attitude is very much the underlying attitude of the establishment of the United States.

The idea that we can make the world better. Both for ourselves and others.

There has been much criticism about race relations in the United States over the last few years. Indeed, I think the amplification of social media and special interests has created increased divisiveness.

Taking a healthy step back, though, and looking at racial relations in America, there can be no argument that they have not improved dramatically.

This doesn’t mean there aren’t still issues nor that race relations couldn’t be better, but think about where we were fifty years ago when I was born and where we are today.

No rational nor objective observer could argue that we are not in a better place.

The legacy of Dr. King has continued to live on and progress. Importantly, I think that remembering his approach – one that emphasized peaceful protest and collaboration – is the one that has worked for America.

This also made me think about the inauguration of President Trump.

Trump is the most polarizing politician of our lifetimes. Honestly, I am not sure we will see another politician anytime soon that creates a stronger reaction.

Take another step back, though, and consider how you imagined the transition to another Trump Presidency would have gone these last few months and now.

If you had known he would win, do you think we would have seen mass protests across America? Property destruction and riots?

Would Trump have come out more aggressively against his opponents? Maybe he still will, but so far, he seems more focused on moving forward.

Also, looking at his appointments, I see a very diverse group. There are a lot of rich people, but both women and LGBT are well represented.

My point is that we (America) continue to move forward. We continue to make progress.

Despite everything you hear and read in the media, we continue to get better.

Remember, they want to emphasize the negative to get you to click so they can get their ad dollars. Optimism and hope don't sell like pessimism and despair.

We hope you enjoy the day off from the stock market, and remember that optimism is key to success.

For America and for INVESTING.