Like many of you, I woke this morning to images of billowing flags, clear skies and a booming vitality that encompassed the many faces of all those present for this generation's inaugural address. Throughout the election, we have heard the echoes of change and a promise for a new era to be waiting for us and yet, without anything to measure these promises by, they have been nothing more than mere words; but fear not, today we saw those words begin to take action. Regardless of your politics, your affiliations or your predisposition to support or be skeptical of this new presidency, one thing cannot be denied: today, the twentieth of January, two thousand and nine, we witnessed the largest inaugural assembly on the footsteps of this nation's capitol, to date. Change has, and certainly will continue to, come, but let us never forget that this change does not solely rest on the shoulders of our new president, it is also up to us, we are the vehicle that can transform the world around us. The new era has begun to set itself in motion, and we, a nation of immigrants, should gladly welcome it, for it is ripe with possibility."We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace."
Obama, H., Barack
Inaugural Address
Washington, D.C.
21, January, 2009
3 comments:
yay! it's about time.
Yeah . . . how's that workin' for you now that, in 60 days, the Big O's spent more than W did in Iraq, Afghanastan, & on Katrina combined? And that doesn't even include the 2 trillion (with a T) he wants to spend on global warming (oh, sorry, *climate change* is the PC way to say that now) or the 3 trillion (also with a T) he wants to spend on healthcare *reform*.
Your grandchildren will be paying for Mr Obama's New Era. As will our economy for decades. Enjoy.
Focus on the future, my friend, think long term.
This post had very little to do with Obama, and much more to do with the people backing him: the American people. Though I voted for Obama, because he was the better candidate, I never for a second believed that he would be the answer to the world's problems.
No president, or leader in general, has, or ever will, fully fulfill their campaign promises; we shouldn't expect it now.
With that in mind, should we expect change? Well friend, in the presence of the largest inaugural assembly that this nation has ever seen, as well as the biggest economic recession that we've seen in a very long time, I'd like to think that maybe, just maybe, the very same people who rose at dawn to witness the very hope and change that they were promised may just have it in them to change the world around them for themselves should they see it faltering.
In many ways, the Bush administration did us a great service by destroying many of the very "freedoms" we were fighting for, because in doing such, I think it left us all a little hungry for the future. The very fact that you would feel it necessary to comment shows me that you too, have a need in you that has not yet been fulfilled.
Whether this president succeeds in picking up the pieces or runs this ship straight into the ground, I'll be happy knowing that we're all a little hungry. Why? Well friend, because the sweet's not as sweet without the bitter; and there's only so far you can go while hungry before you're fed up and have to eat. Change is around the corner, I can feel it.
Post a Comment