I dont know how great a president Obama is going to be. I dont have a crystal ball. But I do know that he is taking over an economy in the midst of a Depression; there are two wars and dozens of other military commitments he has to deal with, along with wholesale policy changes in the US regarding health care, the environment, and immigration. How much he can actually get done is anybody's guess. The job before him is positively monumental. Even if he can only accomplish a fraction of what he sets out to do, I think most people will consider his time in The White House a success.
The reality of this day, this historic moment, is that Obama's presidency represents both the closing of one of the darkest chapters in American history and the opening of a new one. America is a country steeped in racism, where only 40 years ago my parents and grandparents lived in a world of institutionalized segregation. Obama's election as president represents not just a watershed moment for the civil rights movement, but a historic moment for every American, and in fact every nation in the world which looks to us for inspiration.
Jan 20th, 2009. Today the world changed irrevocably when an African American man became the president of an overwhelmingly white nation - not because of the color of his skin but because of content of his character and the ideas he embodied: change, hope, responsibility, transparency, and accountability. Today is the day when ideas, and the ideals of America, grew larger than any one man. It is the realization of the dreams of the founders of this country and the men and women who have served that promise, such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, FDR, John F Kennedy, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Obama's inauguration represents a new chapter in American History, and in turn the closure of his predecessor's political legacy. George W. Bush was not just a bad president - many scholars already agree that he was the worst in the 200 year history of our union. He committed crimes, he changed laws secretly and without public consent, he made America less safe, contributed to its economic downfall, lessened the standing of our country in the eyes of the world, and abandoned his responsibility to protect the ideals of America.
Obama might not save the world, or even America from itself, but I can guarantee to you that he will not break the law. He will not recklessly jeopardize the lives of the brave men and women of our armed forces. He will act responsibly, and not in the best interests of himself or his cronies, but of the American people. Everything else is up to members of his Cabinet, the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the Justices on the Supreme court. I dont think Obama will reinvent politics or government, but at the end of the day I think he will do his job and uphold his responsibility to the people of The United States.
America wants to move on, desperately, from the GW Bush years, his political legacy, and a chapter in our social history that some thought might never end. Today, every man and woman in the United States can look down at their sons and daughters and say "anything is possible in America." Thats why today is important. Our country isnt ideal yet, our Union still isnt perfect, but we are getting there, and today was a huge step forward. Not able to find a cleanly recorded version of Obama's speech from today, Ive included Dr. King's I Have A Dream speech from 1963, delivered on the steps of the Abraham Lincoln memorial in Washington. Today is the full realization of The Dream that Dr. King spoke of, The Dream that he died fighting for. Thats why today is history.
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Here is a link to The New York Times which has an interactive area where you can watch the video of Obamas speech today and read the transcript. Of course the site is flooded right now so it may not be working.
OBAMAS INAUGURATION SPEECH ON THE NEW YORK TIMES WEBSITE
Also, here is a link to the full text of FDR's inauguration speech at the start of the Great Depression in 1933. The parallels to today are unbelievably shocking:
"I am certain that my fellow Americans expect that on my induction into the Presidency I will address them with a candor and a decision which the present situation of our people impel. This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly. Nor need we shrink from honestly facing conditions in our country today. This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory. I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days.
In such a spirit on my part and on yours we face our common difficulties. They concern, thank God, only material things. Values have shrunken to fantastic levels; taxes have risen; our ability to pay has fallen; government of all kinds is faced by serious curtailment of income; the means of exchange are frozen in the currents of trade; the withered leaves of industrial enterprise lie on every side; farmers find no markets for their produce; the savings of many years in thousands of families are gone.
More important, a host of unemployed citizens face the grim problem of existence, and an equally great number toil with little return. Only a foolish optimist can deny the dark realities of the moment."
FDR INAUGURATION SPEECH FULL TRANSCRIPT
I justed watched Obamas speech from today again, and it is quite remarkable in many ways. This is the final part of the speech, that I find particularly inspiring:
"In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by nine campfires on the shores of an icy river.
The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood.
At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:
"Let it be told to the future world that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive, that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet it."
America, in the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words; with hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come; let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.
Thank you. God bless you.
And God bless the United States of America."
'many scholars already agree that he(Bush) was the worst in the 200 year history of our union.'
These scholars really ought to hear about Buchanan.
While of course the best president would be William Harrison; only serving for 32 days.
I dont know how good Obama will be; but of course who should hope for anything but the best.
While I am delighted by Obama's assumption of power, I am fretful that he will not prosecute the crimes of his predecessor.
From The Guardian: "The events of 20 January 2009 are the greatest celebration of a purely democratic achievement in human history."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jan/21/barack-obama-inauguration
I was at the inauguration tuesday. I was fortunate enough to score tickets to the silver (standing) area from my congressman. If anyone's interested I will post a longer exposition on what occurred on the mall that day (as well as, Chronic allowing, some pictures) but for now I'll keep it short.
It was an amazing day. I have never seen so many people in one place in my life. As we entered our viewing area I saw in front of us the stage upon which Obama took the oath and behind us, down capitol hill along the mall, over a million flag waving americans. I wore three pairs of pants, five shirts, three pairs of socks, two pairs of glove and two hats and was just barely comfortable.
Some of the things the cameras didn't show were a million people singing "na na na na, na na na na, hey hey hey, gooood bye" when Cheney was introduced. And they didn't show a million people booing or standing stone silent when bush was introduced. The time has long since passed that we respect a president merely for holding that office.
The service was amazing, except for Rick Warren's overly christian invocation. Everyone cheered when Obama took the oath. All were cold but happy.
Afterwards we climbed the barriers onto the reflecting pool in front of the capitol and skated in our sneakers across the ice to the seated area. Just as we mounted the statue of a horsement before the capitol Bush's escape helicopter lazed over our heads. He was only a hundred feet above us and had just left the ground in DC for good. We all jeered him and many of us felt the satisfaction of giving him the finger from as short a range as anyone is likely to get.
It was a great day.
Nice story Arups, wish I could have joined you in flipping off the greatest master criminal in our countries short history.
Remember we must hold Obama accountable and participate in our Democracy. Now is the time to pay more attention to politics and governments because there is a slim chance they will listen to the people.
A truly memorable moment. It's great so many people have personal experience of it they can pass on.
Try and find yourself in here Arups -
http://www.davidbergman.net/blog/2009/01/22/how-i-made-a-1474-megapixel-photo-during-president-obamas-inaugural-address/ Lots of people are so wrapped up only their eyes peek out.
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