My friend and blogging coach Steve Mays has been in Washington, DC, for several days now. He and his wife, Barb, are attending
what’s now being called “The Moment” - the Inauguration of Barack Obama. Steve’s Inauguration photos can be seen on Flickr here, his blog coverage here.
I’ve been a supporter of Barack Obama since before the Iowa primary, ever since curiosity drew me to read Mr. Obama’s book, The Audacity of Hope. There is, however, absolutely no way I could have been coaxed anywhere near that throng in Washington, DC. Thanks for your courage and reports, Steve.
But not being there in no way diminishes to me the significance of The Moment – this symbolic, yet very real, paradigm shift in our nation’s direction – a shift for which I am profoundly grateful.
When George W. Bush was elected amid the controversy of those hanging chads back in 2000, I became discouraged. But perhaps Nobel Laureate Al Gore accomplished more with An Inconvenient Truth, than he ever would have as President of the United States.
When George W. Bush launched the war in Iraq with virtually no regard for the dissent of other U.N. member nations, I became embarrassed – embarrassed to be a citizen of a country that behaved like a schoolyard bully, rather than as an influential member of an esteemed organization. I am not diminishing the cruel regime of Saddam Hussein; but historically, I believe the United States’ blatant disregard for UN opinion and subsequent (2003) invasion of Iraq will be seen as almost as notorious as Saddam’s 1990 invasion of Kuwait.
When George W. Bush was re-elected in 2004, inspite of his blundering ineptitude, I became downright depressed. I cannot reconcile the concept of warfare being a “pro-life” option – especially if the United Nations has not reached conscensus that absolutely every diplomatic avenue has failed to curb an offending despot. Remember, no “weapons of mass destruction” were ever found in Iraq. After Bush’s re-election, Griz and I actually re-started our previously retired dialog about expatriating.
But perhaps in the end, we should thank Mr. Bush. With his ineptitudes, warfare and policies of domestic plunder, he created the perfect political climate for the election of Barack Obama – a man embodying an absolutely different vision. The election of Barack Obama is not simply about breaking down racial barriers, it’s about looking at the world in entirely different ways. It is unfortunate we’ve had to fall so far before agreeing to start the ascent back up.
Barack Obama represents the best of what this country is supposed to be – he’s one of the rest of us – a man with a humble background of cultural diversity (which coincidentally includes being half African-American), a hard-working man of keen intelligence and genuine benevolence driven by a vision of inclusivity not exclusivity. I truly believe he is a good man who’ll become a great leader.
Of course, we’ve only just begun. The proving ground starts now. But at least we can be united in hope, something we’d almost left behind. As I watch coverage of the Inauguration, I feel like I’m participating in a collective prayer – quiet reverence, mixed with ebullient joy and resolve.
May President Obama and his family remain safe. May we all maintain the energy of change and support President Obama through the tough times ahead so that our mutual dreams and goals for this nation and our global community can be realized.
