At my place of employment, a bunch of old men sit around and talk about sports and politics. The loudest voices among them believe the inauguration of President Barack Obama is a sign of the end of the world.

I am neither a Democrat nor a Republican. Both parties have given me reason to feel that way. But I am, by my definition, patriotic and therefore willing to give the new administration and new ideas a chance to change things for the better.

The media portrayal of the inauguration was one big, happy party across the nation. It was even better than New Year’s Eve, which inevitably produces alcohol-fueled depression and the promise of broken resolutions. (I broke my resolution this week.)

But the message I liked most about the whole inauguration was about getting along with one another and community service.

It reminded me of several “feel good” movies whose improbable endings were nonetheless good ideas.

In the movie Elf, Santa couldn’t fly over New York City because there was no good will or Christmas spirit. That is until Elf’s girlfriend began singing Christmas carols and, all of a sudden, everyone joined in singing and saved the day for Santa.

The same thing happened at the end of Ghostbusters II, when evil was pervasive in the city but the togetherness of New Year’s Eve broke the spell.

This doesn’t say much about my set of values that I adopt from these movies, does it?

Even if you dislike Obama or Nancy Pelosi or Harry Reid, just try to latch onto some of the warm fuzzy feeling of optimism that more than half of the country shares at the moment. And then put it into action by volunteering a little of your time to one of many needy causes, even if it just means giving a coat to the Salvation Army or Soul’s Harbor.