Whether you support our new President or not, I highly recommend everyone watch the Inauguration Ceremony, even if they must watch it after it happens on Tivo, Hulu, MSN - wherever. Why? Because every one of us, as American citizens, have the right, honor, and duty to participate in the Democratic process. It is a historic day in Washington, D.C., not only because today we inaugurate our first president of a non-caucasian race, but because we inaugurate a new President, period.
The Ceremony is only ceremony if you take nothing from it. I lived in Washington, D.C. for five years, and as a very political city, there was no day that passed that you didn't hear of some scandal or edict coming down from Capitol Hill. I have stood in the National Mall and I have seen these places that are now being shown on camera. To me, to know and to have touched these amazing monuments, watching this ceremony makes my heart do nostalgic little spins in my chest.
I do fully recognize that today is a historic day for more reasons than the ones that make it historic to me. And as I've said before, I fully support our new President and yes, I voted for him. I exercised my honor, duty and right to vote in this country, and I respect the full extent of our freedoms. Now, I sound a little uppity about all this, I know, but when was the last time you sat back and said, "Man...I look at the world today, and I am so damned proud to be an American. Our ancestors sacrificed life and family to give us the freedom we have today."
Unfortunately, I think many of us forget that we are so very lucky to lead the lives we lead, to have the rights we have, and to honor our country the way we need to. We are too closeted in the boundaries of our own lives and own problems to remember, sometimes, how very lucky we are.
From the ceremony today, I take with me the knowledge and fact that whether it's a good change or a bad change that we have put into office....it is a change, and our nation will never survive without change, at least not on the path that we have already started. From the ceremony today, I take with me the fact that I am, as we all are, part of this nation's government and faithful to our ancestors want of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I may not, myself, be able to change the world, but if I can change one life, one person's outlook, I have changed THEIR world.
I urge you all to find what you should take from this Ceremony and hold true to it in your hearts. It is only with that purpose that we'll be able to collectively heave ourselves out of this hole we've fallen into. It's time to rebuild, America. It's time to honor those who come before us, and those who gave their lives for us.
It's time for this generation, my generation, who have never seen real conflict or have war thrust on our own borders to rise up and participate in this country, to learn how to lead and appreciate the true meaning of being an American, to have faith in our principles and our rights, to further the message that the Constitution was created to preserve, and to support the foundations of our country. We need not only to appreciate our freedom, but protect it with our actions, no matter how large or small those actions may be.
Deep breath, America. Uncertain times lie ahead, but with a little determination and some hard work, we'll get through them together.
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.
On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.
We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things.
(From Our 44th President's Inaugural Address. Thank you, President Obama. Welcome to office.)
Great Post!
I believe in my heart that this is the time for us to excel and participate and make the best we can make of it. Obama brought everyone together and asked everyone to contribute. and i feel that is what the people will do.
Claire, I too found this day absolutely amazing. For historic reasons of course but also to realize how far we've come !
Holly - Thanks for the reply!
Sonny - We've got to excel and participate or we won't have the freedoms we so often take for granted.
Carole - It's crazy, isn't it? It's amazing to consider the short history of our nation.
Shirley - My point was that we aren't forced to defend our own borders in an all-out war as we had to in WWII and so on, not that we haven't endured conflict. The WTC attack was an awful occurence in our history and scarred many, but it did not require us to defend our homes and families here on our own soil. We, instead, have participated in wars in other countries, which may be a brilliant move to keep civilians from dying, but from a strategy POV, it does stretch our forces to the limit. Anyway :P My point was that the current generation - my generation - has not had a life-altering war like our parents and grandparents did. We don't really know what it's like to have to conserve and pull together yet. This recession may be the very thing this generation needs to kill the gimmmies and smack down uppity children so that they realize how good they've actually got it. (Don't get me started on the corruption of this generation's principles and morality...I could go for DAYS on how screwed up our children are.)
Claire - this is an amazing post - just like the ceremony it depicts.
I was there and it was incredible. I had tears in my eyes. - I live in DC and have lived here since 1994. Before that I lived in Poland, where I was born. Where I experienced communism, marshal laws, no food in stores, and long lines just to get bread.
In both countries - Poland and the US - I've seen what politicians are capable of - the scandals, the nasty, the greed, the arguments, the backstabbing.
I believe that this time it will be different. This is not a President that looks back and holds a grudge agains his opponents, but rather he looks for ways to move forward and get things accomplished. I like that. I like that he is about action and not just about talking. He will save this country.
In 2002 I chose to become an American and I am very proud to be one now.
Barbara