The point at which America declared independence was not one that happened overnight. Within the thirteen colonies there had to be one person who was bold enough to talk about separation. This person must have been able to inspire others, because as we know the idea caught on. Hope and inspiration grew over time and before long a movement was born. Concerned citizens united around a common cause and accepted the challenge of creating something better. However, not all of the colonists were ready to join this movement. These people chose to remain loyal to the king and hang on to the old ways. They were the loyalists, a group of people who had no idea that one of the greatest events in world history was about to happen. What would America look like today if the loyalists had their way?

Like most people, the loyalist fears change and is unable to summon the courage to overcome it. Especially change that would require sacrifice, as the loyalist can't rise above the fear of sacrifice. The loyalist is more focused on what can go wrong and overlooks what can go right. The loyalist needs substance, but fails to realize a united people are the substance. A loyalist wants experience, but doesn't understand the experience of a movement. A loyalist clings to the old ways and rejects that which is new. 

The loyalist is not necessarily a bad person. Without them a movement would be unable to grow. It is the opposition to a movement that allows it to become one in the first place. This same opposition is what allows a movement to gain strength. I don't know if the Obama campaign is officially a movement, but if it is I am sure there are going to be loyalists who will want to cling to the ways of the past. They will remain loyal to what was and will reject what can be. Even when the movement turns into a revolution, a loyalist will continue to oppose. But once the revolution brings the change that started as a movement, the loyalist will eventually change their loyalty.