Today traditionally marks my favorite day of the year. As a baseball fanatic, part of it is just my being happy to see our national pastime starting up again, with the promise of the 7 upcoming months of thrills. But beyond that, I love what opening day represents- the coming of spring, and most of all, the idea that everyone gets a fresh start.

Today, everyone, from the Yankees with their $200 million salary, to the Royals, who lost 106 games last year, begins the season tied. And while the pretenders and contenders will likely separate themselves soon enough, every fan can enjoy the feeling, at least for one day, that if everything breaks right, this could be their year (except maybe for Cubs fans.)

But on this opening day, it's important to remember that life isn't as simple as baseball, and think of those who don't get a fresh start every year (or at all). Those without healthcare yesterday, don't get to start over today. Those without pensions don't get to start over today. Finally, the thousands of soldiers who have been killed in Iraq, and the thousands more who have been injured, and their families, do not get to start over today, and will carry the pain and consequences of this immoral war with them forever.

So on this opening day, I invite you all to celebrate one of the elements that makes America great and root for your favorite team, but also to think of those, unlike the athletes playing today, who won't get a fresh start until we elect leaders willing to address these injustices and change the way the game is played.