Years from now, when we recall the inauguration of the 44th President, what will we tell those that weren't here, or were too young to remember? What emotions will we describe, how best to explain the significance of the event?
On this night, before the inauguration of Barack Obama, I get choked up by what I believe it means for our country. There were times when I truly believed I would not live to see the election of an African-American President. (Though, I always knew it would happen before a woman was elected.) Ironically, the nation's capital wasn't built by the sweat of the ancestors of Mr. Obama, but of his wife, Michelle. I find it interesting, that while 'black' - as defined by so many in our nation - Barack Obama is not descended from slaves. So, while he has experienced the ill effects of our national shame, his connection is tenuous. Odd how things work out...
For so long, I have been grieving for the nation that I love so dearly, the danger I felt the Republic was facing, that I can't help but feel hopeful by what Barack Obama represents. He is the epitome of poise, grace and dignity. I can tell you quite honestly, if it were John McCain that were being sworn in tomorrow, in this economy, I most certainly would not be contemplating buying a condo right now. (I'd be stuffing all of my cash into my mattress, and buying gold!) Is Barack the saviour? I'm not hoping for the second coming, I'd just like us to have a good President. One that doesn't make me ashamed for my country, how far it has fallen from it's promise. Someone who has studied the Constitution, and a man who, I believe, will mean it when he swears to 'defend and protect' it.
Right now, I truly believe that Barack Obama is the perfect man for our country, in this troubled time. Not so much for who he is, but for who he believes We The People to be. When the shit hits the fan, we will not be told to go shopping, but to roll up our sleeves, put on some gloves, and start wiping off the walls. The success or failure of his Presidency rests in our willingness to do just that. It's as true in 2009 as it was in 1936 when FDR said: "There is a mysterious cycle in human events. To some generations much is given. Of other generations much is expected. This generation of Americans has a rendezvous with destiny."
We will be called upon to be the saviours of our Republic. What happens depends on if we answer that call...
A place for Polite, Passionate discussion about Politics in America. Sharing opinions, elightening our fellows and saving the Republic - one post at a time!
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We don't need JFK, we need FDR!!!
"Governments can err, Presidents do make mistakes, but the immortal Dante tells us that divine justice weighs the sins of the cold-blooded and the sins of the warm-hearted in different scales.
Better the occasional faults of a Government that lives in a spirit of charity than the consistent omissions of a Government frozen in the ice of its own indifference.
There is a mysterious cycle in human events. To some generations much is given. Of other generations much is expected. This generation of Americans has a rendezvous with destiny."
From Franklin D. Roosevelt's speech accepting his party's nomination for President - Democratic National Convention, Philadelphia, PA, June 27, 1936.
Better the occasional faults of a Government that lives in a spirit of charity than the consistent omissions of a Government frozen in the ice of its own indifference.
There is a mysterious cycle in human events. To some generations much is given. Of other generations much is expected. This generation of Americans has a rendezvous with destiny."
From Franklin D. Roosevelt's speech accepting his party's nomination for President - Democratic National Convention, Philadelphia, PA, June 27, 1936.
About Me
- J.M. Ferretti
- A bleeding heart liberal, who knows deep down inside that Right and Left are closer than we think. I believe that Progressives are under-represented in the Democratic Party and that it's not too late for true Republicans to reclaim the GOP. Power to We The People!!!
Some of my favorite things
- www.thomhartmann.com
- "Meet John Doe" starring Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck
- "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" starring Jimmy Stewart & Jean Arthur
- "Mr. Conservative: Goldwater on Goldwater"
- "Screwed: the undeclared war against the middle class - and what we can do about it" by Thom Hartmann
50 comments:
You libbies are real pieces of work. Gotta laugh at your nerve.
You're just lucky conservatives are generally better and more gracious people.
If you had any real wealth to worry about, you'd be just as unhappy as many of us who will be kissing ours goodbye "for the good of the republic". Meaning to continue to give handouts and more handouts to those who don't want their free ride to go away anytime soon. Thanks a lot, Mr, Savior.
Well said, ferret.
FH, your words brought tears to my eyes...I love that quote from FDR. You are awesome. Great writing.
Obama is so f.ing self assured. Did you see how he laughed off the brief disconnect he and J. Roberts had over the oath? He then shifted to finish it sincerely and launched into a speech that I found surprisingly conservative, both in tone and in substance. The historical imagery, however, captured my imagination. That concluding allusion to Washington and the battered revolutionary army freezing in the same DC winter everyone was bundled up against today -- that was nice.
.
Obama's self assurance by itself, of course, won't be enough. But damn, it does generate hope.
I won't get to see the speech until I get home. I'm avoiding reading or watching it until then, so I can be assured of seeing it uninterrupted...stupid boss expects me to work!
suza - thank you for your kind words. I was choking up as I typed it, and I hope my sincerity showed... At the DNC, PrezBO said that change doesn't come from DC, but to it. If the people truly want things to change, we must take it upon ourselves to make it happen.
Wow, I loved what you had to say. I feel privileged to be able to share in this historic election and be able to share it with my children. My children hear Obama’s words of hope, community and individual responsibility. I feel sorry for the people that don’t have a sense of community. We all have to sacrifice for a better world. I want my children to volunteer and help others and I am proud our new president reminds us to do just that.
Wonderful -- I ruined the ending for you.
(btw, if your bosses are frantically trying to put together a bid at the deadline or something, I can understand your predicament -- otherwise, I have to say they sound like jerks for not allowing the office to watch the event live via computer.)
Obama's presidency would be a lot sweeter if the country wasn't in such terrible shape. He has gotten me to uncurl from a tight fetal position, but I'm staying under the covers for the time being.
xootsuit - now I feel bad! My boss is great, and if my beloved office mate hadn't shown such poor foresight, and scheduled a meeting with a vendor for 9:00, we would have been watching it with the rest of the bunch. But, even at work, phones ring, people stop by, etc. Considering how weepy I was this morning, it's probably best that I didn't watch with my co-workers...they don't need to see me bawl my eyes out.
If you guys want to discuss the speech, feel free. I'll try to resist the urge to peek...
This just in. Because the oath wasn't recited correctly (the word faithfully was misplaced), the rightwing nuttia wants to challenge Obama's claim to office. Good luck with that one, meanwhile let the war crime trials for Bush/Cheney begin.
Mr./Ms. Anonymous I and II, whoever you are, your noxious bile has no place in getting this country back on track. If you were truly better and/or more gracious, you'd never make comments like those.
I had scheduled a physical therapy appointment this morning without thinking about the inauguration, so I had no expectation to see it, but they happened to have the TV on in the rehab room, so I got to watch the oaths and the speech. For me, Obama is not as natural or as commanding a speaker as Bill Clinton (I'm no Bill lover, but I recognize quality when I hear it), but his tone and message were very apt for the circumstances. We've got work to do, let's get down to it.
We are better--and they fact that we're gracious at losing and willing to give any president a chance to prove his worth before we cast judgment, speaks volumes.
Morons like Suza ca't even be happy with her victory to shut her foul yap about Bush for a second. You guys sabotaged him and you know.
You'd better hope to hell there's not another attack...'cause that was one promised and thing Bush did accomplish--he kept us safe-- and that was what we hired him for. Despite a bunch a good for nothin' liberals scum attacking him at every turn. And you have the gall to expect for and ask for our support. The funny thing is, because conservatives are more noble-minded, they'll do it. That's graciousness, Suza.
Sorry about the typos--I'm livid.
You're acting like a diva Gina.
"...generally better and more gracious people" usually don't feel the need to announce themselves as such. And by the way, the implied meaning is that non-conservatives are "worse and ungracious". I think we should all agree that there's both kinds of people in both persuasions.
As for kissing your money goodbye... the rich and conservative will just finally have to pay their fair share of taxes like the rest of us poor, liberal, "rotten and ungracious" working stiffs. It's the rich and connected who've been getting the free ride for the better part of this last decade. It's time for all of us to step up and roll up the sleeves.
Another aside: Judge Roberts was nervous during the oath, and he's the one who said it wrong. Obama, who practiced and prepared for this day, noticed right away. Obama is the one who corrected Roberts! Roberts apologized when they greeted at the luncheon in Statuary Hall. You can read Roberts lips in the video, he says "it was my fault". But, of course, both men were gracious and laughed about it.
Get off your high-horse, debo.
I haven't heard a single conservative complain about Obama yet--they generally respect the office of presidency no matter who's in it...and give the man a chance to do his job. A courtesy liberals never afford a Republican president. Dems are the party of the common man--maybe that's the difference between the two.
And wealth usually has nothing to do with class and graciousness, although a lot of people, my father for instance, is better off than most because he worked hard and honestly for his money.
Well, is left to me to criticize? I disliked the militaristic motif that ran through the speech. I hear commentators now saying that Obama focused on the need "to end two wars." Actually, he re-declared "war" on terror first. Then he repeatedly compared the entire population of the country to soldiers in a war. And perhaps oddest thing of all, he started the speech by addressing the "citizens" of the country.
In other words, I saw an us-against-them theme throughout. I suppose it is possible that the message was being sent globally. On the one hand, Bush and Cheney sat there, in disgrace, as Obama properly insulted them for the mess we are in. But on the other hand, Obama seemed to be saying, yes, things will be different now. But do not think you can mess with us and get away with it.
Times we live in, I suppose.
Kinda sounded uppity to me. That's always good for uniting people.
Whadday think about this quote?
"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," he said. "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."
Suzabitch last line.
Shoot. Pisspoor editing as usual.
I meant to say: SuzaBitch oughtta love that last line.
You're an odd combination of a black hole and a supernova Gina, an astronomical oxymoron if you will.
Apparently some commentators have picked up on the "my fellow citizens" start to the Obama speech.
A friend of mine moved to Ireland last year to teach at a university. She tells me that elected officials who represent people in Irish government go door to door to discuss issues with constituents. One of her local reps showed up one day and she immediately told him he was wasting his time asking about her concerns because she's a US citizen, not an Irish one.
He said, well, you live here. And you know you can vote here, don't you?
Maybe I'm just a COMPLICATED woman...and only my man understands me...
I agree with Lefty that the speech sounded a bit miltaristic for my taste. I was encouraged that he overtly acknowledged Muslim-Americans as legitimate citizens of this country, despite the fact that xenophobic yahoos will make much of the comment. It was his own 'Bring it on' moment. I also very much appreciated the nod to secular America and the underlying implication that the religious among us who insist on cramming their fantasies into our busy days are wasting their time. 'Bush kept us safe'-- I have to laugh at that oft repeated statement, not just because the very opposite is the truth, but because it makes those who utter the lie appear as the child-minded simpletons they are. I'm overjoyed to have a real man in office finally, and I say that without regard to Obama's gender, but rather his character, something which MLK reminded me Bush is to be judged by as he flees the hand of justice.
TooSense, I know what you mean by "a real man" but I would use the word "adult".
Obama's yet to really prove himself but at least he comes off as an adult who uses a thought process
Excellent point, Ted. I stand politically corrected. ;)
Gee, TooSense--did I get under your skin a little, strike a nerve? I'm surprised all you wrote was a little ol' paragraph this time.
And by the way, Suza never delayed gratification at all, quite the contrary--she just took the coward's way out. And look, she has a Prada handbag and some snapshots from Venice to prove it.What a woman. Have at that dried-out old prune, BIG GUY, she's all yours.llogin
There's a big difference between getting on somebody's nerves and striking a nerve.
The Chronicle and sfgate have the worst headline authors:
"Wyoming greets Cheney with ovation"
Will he rise to the occasion? If things work out, will he be a good father?
In the giddiness of the moment, it's easy to forget that Obama could very well have lost this election if not for McCain's VP choice and the timing of the financial collapse....
Gina: most of the country rallied behind the president after 9/11, Bush "earned" every point of popularity he lost in the subsequent years...
The speech was fine, IMO. Toned down for the times we are living. I'll be interested to see how Obama handles the financial crisis, his choices for his economic team are not encouraging. Many of these are the people who championed the deregulation that got us here. Maybe it's like the con man chestnut... does it take a dereulator to regulate? I dunno about that...
I really don't care what I do to TooSense. He and Suza can fight it out over whom I like the least. What a pair.
I just can't understand why some people just can't be less snide and arrogant in their victory. If you expect people to go along with the game plan and cooperate, you don't have to insult them while you're asking for it. In my mind, any outgoing President deserves some respect, especially one that was sabotaged by his victors...it's common decency. I guess Suza and TooSense don't understand the finer points of civility.Talk about being crass trolls.
I wonder how much the Democrats--especially the liberal media that pounded him relentlessly and unfairly-- are to blame for the mess we're in now? The funny thing is, is that it appears that they are getting their just desserts,too. Haha. Care to buy an ink-stained dinosaur, anyone?
I get it now... gina's operating under the mistaken assumption that she's been invited to join with us in the 21st century; that her cooperation is somehow required. I'll just graciously wait for her to catch up to reality.
It might be faster to wait for her to realize she is an obsessive moron. It is going to be a long wait either way.
Gina - I have deleted your last comment. To take something a person shared of themselves here and use it against them is despicable. Do you have anything positive to bring to the blog?
My Spanish is pretty shaky. How do you tell an annoying person to go away? Is it "va Gina"?
Of, course ferret. I understand completely...that conservatives always have a different set of rules to follow than liberals like Suza and NoSense. That's why they can get away with doing the very same thing first and you don't bat an eye...
"yeah, I'm sure. Too bad you're bankrupt and your man left you and you've got all those kids to support, huh? it's all about the life choices and delayed gratification my terminally insecure yet cute, skinny amiga."
but I'm glad we agree on the bitch thing. there's a start.
Good heaven's that my words might actually be truthful--it always hurts, doesn't it?
Enjoy your day in the sun, Suza...
gina - I apologize if there seems to be a double standard. I usually don't go back and read comments from an older post once I put the new one up. To be honest, reading over that exchange between you two, I wish I hadn't changed that pattern.
Can I ask you a question: Did you post the first two comments on this thread?
Only one. You'll have to guess which one. And thank you for your apology--I appreciate it. You're kind--as always.
And NoSense--when you've left my children with your 850 billion dollar debt and none of your own offspring to help shoulder the burden, just how do you think they'll vote to take care of you when you're the powerless one and they're in the driver's seat?
By then, socialism and euthanasia oughtta be in full swing...
I figure they'll probably raise their little clubbed hands and swat away at the ballot while a river of drool drips from their chins. Whether they actually follow through all the way to banging their ballots on the edge of the recycling can until they lose their "grip" and they tumble in, prompting a shriek of wonder and a sprayburst of spittle, not to mention the pitying looks of everyone else in the room, is anybody's guess. Did you envision a similar scenario, gina?
Only if you're their father...and those genes responsible wouldn't be my contribution...
I see the identity of the father remains a mystery. This is almost as intriguing as the anonymous poster puzzle.
Such a lovely post by FH, and then... well, a pretty disappointing thread....
Whatever your politics, and I'm in "wait and see" mode on Obama, how in the world can one not be excited about what may lie ahead? I see the promise of great achievement, and also the potential for a tragic fall. This is a monumental task and the fleecing we're taking from the banks must be first on the agenda. That bail out money needs to go to making loans, refinancing bloated mortgages... not changing hands between the robber barons who got us here. They're thumbing their noses at us as we throw good money after bad: knowing that they have the government by the jockstrap.
I've been very leery of Obama's Wall Street roots and the huge sums of money he raised from unregistered lobbyists... it's "put up" time. These billions need to start flowing down hill.
I'd say it's ironic, but ferret always has stars in her eyes...but maybe what it turned into is a more realistic view of what an Obama presidency is going to end up like: more discord between the parties, a realization that innocent people always pay the price for the sins of others that wont, and if you build a house of straw, expect it to come tumbling down when a strong wind blows...
I mean, a government that imposes its will upon its citizens concerning religious principles over things like abortion, embryonic stem-cell research, gay marriage, bail-out of banks--all that starts lookin' like taxation without representation, or more succinctly--tyranny. No wonder you libs wanna do away with the second amendment.
I wonder what the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution had to say about that to Obama the Saviour, ferret?
Just making it an even 50 comments
:)
Jeez, what vitriol. I see the conservatives have let their baser feelings take charge here, giving them free rein to take liberties with the truth. Tyranny? If it was 299,999,999 for the other side and you alone for your side, you'd still call it tyranny. Stem cell research? First, Obama hasn't revoked Bozo's executive order, and a majority of the country does want the research to go forward. Abortion? Again, the majority wants it to be legal, and Obama is simply affirming the wishes of the majority and the Supreme Court's decision. Gay marriage? Looks like Obama doesn't want it, and it's still not valid in 48 states; while I think it's unjust and unconstitutional to ban same-sex marriage, I don't see how there's any tyranny going on, unless you're either (a) gay or (b) a fan of the Constitution. And with Rushbo making his asinine statements, it's very difficult to want to work with conservatives, but we have to try. But conservatives have a long way to go before they're fit to be worked with.
WV: very inapt, alansusi. This has been no Laugh-In, trying to speak plainly to stiff-necked prigs.
And whoever said that conservatives were gracious and willing to give Obama a chance to succeed before passing judgment had Goddamned better well cut off that Goddamned Rush Limbaugh at the knees and tell him to go to Hell.
Oh, please, DSG. Go blow your snot somewhere else.
This is nothin' compared to what we got from you guys.
And, I don't listen to Limbaugh, but apparently you do, so thanks.
Also, speaking of tyranny, it never seems like tyranny until it is your right that has been violated. Eventually if you subject enough people to enough unfairness, they revolt. I use our country as an example. And even though they have dumbed down our education system to the point where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution and the Bill of Rights are not in the lesson plan, regular folks still know the value of freedom. You'll never exercise it out of the blood of red-blooded Americans.
It's interesting how you use the 'majority rule' rule when it's a rule you favor. The majority use to think slavery was acceptable, too. Democrats never change, do they?
wv:picin--what dsg does in the wind...
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