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Tone and Challenge in the Obama Era
"Never in our national history has there been so dramatic a coincidence as this simultaneous transfer of power and the complete collapse of a system and of a philosophy." Resonant and relevant words at this moment.
Those words come from March 1933, as President Franklin Delano Roosevelt marked the end of an epoch, and The Nation editorialized that his inaugural words "had something of the challenge, the symbolism, and the simplicity of a trumpet blast."
As Barack Obama is sworn in today as America's 44th President, we will hear a new trumpet blast. His election marks a remarkable moment of realism and symbolism in our country's history--- a milestone in America's scarred racial landscape, and a victory for the forces of decency, diversity and tolerance.
Some 2 million people will gather in Washington to celebrate--breaking records today as they did during an astonishing two-year primary season which was infused with soaring hope and fervent anticipation.
Yes, there will be roars filled with hope and excitement marking this extraordinary American story. And at high noon, Obama-- the first Community-Organizer-in-Chief-- takes the oath of office, placing his hand on the Lincoln bible. The man who ran by crafting and mobilizing a new coalition of the young, African-Americans, Latinos, and the once- disenfranchised, will now have the opportunity to reshape our country and reengage a world eager for a post-Bush/Cheney torture era.
Obama will appeal, as President Lincoln did in his first inaugural, to "the better angels of our nature." But in sync with Sunday's blissful concert at the Lincoln Memorial, Obama will also speak eloquently about the value of creating a new community, the value of devising a new concept of responsibility---one that is personal but never lets government off the hook. I suspect one key message will be that of confidence, possibility, even joy, and of recovery-- economic and spiritual. He will remember the shoulders he stands on. He will lay out a kind of anti-politics, venturing--- daringly--- to remake our calcified political tone and culture. He will --as he did during the campaign-- support a more honest politics that can deliver shared prosperity, purpose and sacrifice. And there is my abiding hope that in this new era we will find a transpartisan humanism, allied with effective government, that can actually improve the hard conditions of people's lives.
Our new President speaks with eloquence about solidarity---one that renews and restores the lives of those who work two or three jobs, those who have no health care, those who live without the heat or food or medicine they need. But it will take we, the people, to make sure Barack Obama has the strength to complete the unfiinished work of making America a more perfect union.
We can, yes.
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21 Comments so far
Show AllRick Warren represents hatred, fear and intolerance.
He's presence was not a bridge to understanding. It was a nod to bigotry still accepted.
And then take a good look at the Obama cabinet members. These are the same people who got the US into this mess.
Meanwhile resources run out. The population of the planet increases at three people per second. And what do we get? Our Father who art in heaven, that's what.
Prepare for four more years of the same.
When Rick Warren came on, I walked out of the room.
.I turned down the radio....
.
We see things, not as they are, but as we are.
Anais Nin
This is not an either or equation. We the people includes and encompasses all.
Obama is one of the people. He did not cast off his citizenry he is bound to by becoming our political servant, he bound more duties on to those pre-existing duties of citizenship to our country.
It will take him, being the example and us being the example. But because of his exhortations of the truth, that the truth is incumbent upon him as well as those he exhorts to, us.
He is equal to us in duty, not beyond us and the duties we all bear to stand up and once again be torch bearers to peace and equality for all.
Be careful
Look
"a milestone in America's scarred racial landscape, and a victory for the forces of decency, diversity and tolerance."
Katrina,
You do know that Mr. Obama has vowed to attack in Afghanistan. You know that this will continue to inflame the Muslim world. You know that many innocent human beings will be murdered because of the American wars.
You know that Mr. Obama is going to continue to "bailout" the insolvent banks instead of letting them fail.
You know that this is not "change we can believe in." His policies are a continuation of the past administration, and they will fail.
You know Mr. Obama is a House Negro?
You are just another member of the corrupt ruling elite.
More whining already? The guy hasn't even been President 24 hrs. U people make me sick.
So why do you bother posting? Take two aspirin and go to bed if U are sick, sicko!
Because, it annoys people like u.
.I doubt it annoys as many as you think. I doubt you understand the feeling of being embarrassed for you.
.
We see things, not as they are, but as we are.
Anais Nin
LATEST: Obama urges Americans to carry forth 'that great gift of freedom' to future generations.
How many zero are in that 'gift of freedom' we have given to our children to repay?
Once the platitudes have worn thin, Katrina will have to return to the reality of what Obama actually does, or fails to do. But this is a day of triumphant cliches and soaring, though mostly empty, symbolism. We're all sick and tired of the depression and rage wrought by 8 years of Bush the Moron and are willing to latch onto any illusory morsel of hope. So party like it's 2099. The future is waiting to kick our gullible asses.
topaz
all those comments full of poison,you poeple are part of the problem,i feel sorry for you not to be able to look and feel beyond your narrow vision of the world,not to be able to rejoice,to look ahead,and see what you can do to help Obama succeed,we are in this together...mark my word..he will surprise you....give yourselves a chance...
Hey topaz, it does seem at times like poison is the exilir of the dream but if you change your view, look a little closer, think a little more, you might find enough hope to turn poison to passion and passion to love.
What happens when snowflakes stick together?...............friends come together and have snow ball fights. :)
Leea
Tone and Challenge in the Obama Era
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I don't know who writes these headlines, but this sounds like something one acquires by joining a gym.
· Yr Obd't Servant
It's better than E. J. Dionne's "..his brain is large, his style is fresh..."
The Glue That Holds Chaos Together
The blatantly overused references to past presidents is sickening, and I would like to judge Obama on his merits, not on his supposed similarities to dead presidents long gone.
Is it too much to ask that progressives discuss Obama with out all of the transparent pandering and media-saavy comparisons?
WHY do we not STOP the SLOGANS!! Is there a sane person alive who is not sick of "hope and change" of "yes we can"?? It doesnt even translate to exactly that, as any Latino can tell you . (Yes, it is possible , is more more like it ie. Cesar Chavez)
Yes, there is a sane person alive who is not sick of hope and change and yes, we can. At least, I'm confident about the alive part; you can leave it to your own judgment as to sane.
How can you tire of hope, change, and yes, we can in only a few months when for the past 8 years our slogans have been "Don't attack Iraq", "End the War in Iraq", "Stop torture", "Stop whatever latest social, environmental, or foreign policy disaster the Bush team has invented this week"?
After that, I can easily tolerate hope, change, and yes we can. Or how about such Bush slogans as, "I've earned political capital and I'm prepared to spend it" or "These people were underprivileged anyway, so really this is working out fine for them". Yup, I think I deal with a whole lot more hope and change for a long time.
Be positive. Today is no day for whiners.
By taking the oath of office, Obama has decupled the competence of the Federal government. That's his first accomplishment.
I thought Rick gave a good speech and I'm not even a believer in Bejesus or whomever he believes in.
Reading the complaints about Obama and even Warren, It's not exactly like the complaints about GWB is it?