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Steamboat Springs — With Tuesday's inauguration ceremony, a new age has begun. This is simply a fact, not the overzealous dramatization of an inspirational moment. The transition to a new age, from which we will not have the option to turn back, would be happening now whether President Barack Obama were amongst us or not. Life will never be the same; only the change in direction is in question.

And although periods of great change always bring with them high levels of anxiety - we like to believe in the illusions of "security" and "stability" - they also invariably bring great opportunities. I feel extremely privileged to be alive at this moment. This is the first time in the history of our planet and in the evolution of our species that we have ever been faced with limits. Wow, our resources really are finite, after all. We have left our children with the legacy of having to save the Earth. Whether they are successful or not is pretty much irrelevant in the grand scheme of things, because the Earth will do whatever it has to do in order to survive. But it will be one of those eras in history that will raise consciousnesses, maximize creativity, innovation, and genius, and demand and achieve the highest potential of which many of us humans are capable. We will see many great men and women rise to the occasion. That's exciting, but it does not negate the fact that the time remaining for human beings to save our species is very limited. If we are not successful, cockroaches will inherit the Earth - and life will continue.

I'm pumped and imperiled. It is time, as Obama expressed in the essence of his message, to "unclench the fist, reach across the table and shake hands" with the world. No human being is worth more than any other - a pretty simple, self-evident, "a priori" concept. There never can be peace on Earth until there is equality. Wealth no longer can be a license to pollute and to consume and to disregard the "inalienable rights" of others. Implementation is now the gigantic challenge - and, like it or not, we no longer have any other choices. Sure, it's tough to change old, long-held habits - and to learn to share and care if we rarely have. But, because we've waited this long, we've sacrificed all other options.

It's really all about the children.

Michael L. Roberts

Steamboat Springs