The final wave - The end of an error.
As I was watching the Inauguration of Barack Obama on television, it occurred to me that this occasion was cause for a double dose of celebration. An incoming President who seems to understand moderation and an even keel was sworn in, and an outgoing President whose tenure was marked by disaster after disaster quietly departed out of DC via helicopter. I was just as elated by the departure of Bush as I was by the inauguration of Obama.
After a stirring rendition of “My Country ‘Tis Of Thee” by Aretha Franklin, amid a crowd of an estimated 2 million people, Barack Obama took the oath of office from Chief Justice John Roberts during which, he [Obama] endearingly stumbled over the oath. Obama then went on to deliver his inaugural address. It may not have been in par with the soaring rhetoric of his past speeches, but it was sincere and earnest. It might not have been what America wanted to hear, but it was one that America needed to hear.
Watch:
Obama reminded America that amid the pomp, these are very sobering times:
“That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.”
He sent a message of conciliation punctuated with a message of strength to the Middle East:
“We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort – even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.”
“To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect.
To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society’s ills on the West – know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.”
He finished his speech with a sense of hope interspersed with reality:
“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.”
A gala luncheon was held in honor of Obama and Biden in Statuary Hall in the Capitol. During the luncheon, Senators Robert Byrd and Ted Kennedy had to be removed and taken to the hospital for medical reasons. Kennedy’s was more severe as he collapsed and experienced convulsions before being taken by ambulance to Washington Hospital Center for observation. Kennedy has been reported to be fine and joking around later in the afternoon.
As I watched all of this unfold, from the inaugural swearing in to the parade and Inauguration Balls, my overall feeling is that of very cautious optimism. I believe that we can work our way out of this mess which was eight years in the making, but I believe Obama when he says that the process will be difficult. I pray that Americans are prepared for what lies ahead. Although the tide has shifted and we are no longer subject to the dangerous policies that have plagued us, there is no quick-fix. I urge everyone to be patient as we embark on a new era.
Thankfully, we have new leadership with the helm steered toward good, common-sense policies.
