We spent a lot of time in front of the TV today watching the momentous swearing in of Barack Obama. It was very emotional to think about what this meant to our nation. When you think about how far our country has come.....to elect an African American within 50 years of segregation, blacks pitted against whites in violent riots, and the march in Selma. To think that, as a nation, we could have matured this much in so little time is amazing to me. When I think about the significant events of my lifetime, as a 48 year old woman, a lot of them are very dark in nature. Countless wars, beginning with the Vietnam war,the 80's with long gas lines and outrageous interest rates, the 90's and the beginning of the "Me" generation with self indulgent lifestyles, terrorism as a world wide threat and another war that has been going on for seven, long years. Today gives a wonderful sense of hope and of a coming together as a nation. A nation, united in a common purpose, without regard to the color of someone's skin. I think that there is no one better suited, at this point in time, to lead us to a brighter future. His vision of hope for our nation is as strong as his conviction for fiscal responsibility. It makes me wonder what wonderful things we can accomplish in the next 48 years of my life.
On the right side of our blog is a recorded message from President Obama. In this speech, as well as in other countless speeches he has given, he talks about how important it is for the American people to take back their government to make it work. He encourages all of us to give service to our country in some manner. Go to usaservice.org and see what events are in your community that you can lend a hand to. Tonight Linda and I went to Hagarstown, MD and worked in a soup kitchen there that has been providing a valuable service to their community for the past 10 years. On Thursday night we'll go to another church, in Hagarstown and help them feed their citizens. It is so rewarding to help out those who so desperately need our help. You get back so much more than what you give !
Let today be the start of something wonderful for our nation. A chance to regain our status as a respected world leader.....a nation who gains its strength not by bullying those weaker than us or by going it alone but by the unity of our collective spirit. Yes We Can....
2 comments:
Oh, I wholeheartedly agree. Jim and I watched 16 hours of events. How exciting to be a part of this historic event! "Doing the right thing" will now be part of our lives again.
I do think it's a wonderful thing. As in "welcome to the 21st century, America." However, cynic that I am, I also think he got the nod largely because the great unwashed and the power elite would rather have a man, any man, even a black man, as president than have a woman as president.
Make no mistake: I think he'll be a great president. I just think Hilary would have been one, too.
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