“Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America – they will be met.
On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.”–Barack Obama
What an amazing day today has been. As I was watching the inaugural address on tv, my daughter was practicing the piano in the other room, playing “My Country ‘Tis of Thee”. It brought a tear to my eye. And although I might not have voted for President Obama, and I may not agree with all of his politics, he is now my president, and I have high hopes for the future. I believe he can be a great president.
As the kids came home and I was watching the whole thing on tv, they said, “Oh, we watched this all day at school.” I’m glad they watched it at school. I don’t know about the ‘all day’ part, but I hope that they remember this day. The day that a black man became the president of the United States of America. A day that they should remember.
“For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter’s courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent’s willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.
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.”
I guess I don’t need to post now. I was trying to analyze my feelings about today, but now I just need to direct people to your blog. Thanks for being so articulate. Here’s hoping.
Wasn’t it beautiful? I agree with you – I don’t share all of his views but why can’t we move forward on this tsunami of hope and optimism? Look at the good and expand on it is what I say. And, today, there was plenty of good.