Now I know there are a number of you out there who voted for John McCain last year but I have to say that I have never felt so damn proud of my country. Now I don’t expect Barack Obama to fulfill all his promises or haul America out of the recession instantly; I just know that he’s going to do his very best to transform this nation for the better. Now it is up to us to come together and try to fix this mess we’re in.
As a member of one of the minorities in America I feel…I still have trouble wrapping my mind around it, I never thought I’d see this happening in my lifetime. I still want to see a woman and an atheist take the oath of office, but one at a time, America. You did yourself proud.
All day yesterday I thought it especially fitting that we’d swear in Barack Obama the day after MLK Jr Day. Though a friend of MLK did rightly point out that we’re not “done”, this is just a major milestone with more road to travel (or something to that effect).
At any rate…I’m also really proud of our country today. Other milestone presidents I’d like to see: a woman, an atheist, a homosexual, and frankly I’d love to see someone come as close as possible to the 35yo age minimum to be elected.
As a bonus, it’s actually legitimately snowing here in NC, so I get a 2-hour delay from work. Possibly more, but I have to wait for an update later in the day. I plan on camping out (either at work in our conference room or at home on the couch) to watch the inauguration itself, though.
Change? We’ll see. Be careful about putting people on pedestals with high expectations. You’re setting yourself up for disappointment. Obama very well might bring change. I will decide later, when it has actually occurred, if it is positive change or not.
I am skeptically optimistic. I voted for him, I love having a President and Vice President that I personally am hopeful for and proud of, and I do hope that they will make our country a better place.
And I too hope that this is the beginning of a new stage of diversity in our leadership. In most cases, I could care less what my leaders look like or what they believe, as long as they lead us with wisdom and integrity.
All I have to do is mentally compare the first inauguration of George W. Bush in 2000 with what happened today.
No matter what the rest of Barack Obama’s legacy is, this will remain: He got more people engaged and involved with the political process beyond just the ballot box than ever in modern times.
Now, we have to see if he can walk his talk.
He can’t solve the recession overnight. He admits he can’t. But there are things he can certainly do, things we can hope for.
At the very least, I believe he’s going to give it the good hometown try.
1.8 million.
That’s how many people turned out in below freezing temperatures to see him sworn in. That’s unprecedented.
But one of the things about Obama is he isn’t a black President at all. He’s a President…who happens to be black. Understand that difference and you’ll understand that while the Dream is not yet with us…
True, though mentally I lumped that in with atheist, as a general “let’s stop the trend of WASPs in the white house” (though I guess we did ditch the W part). I’m all for leaders who bring a different perspective than the standard WASPy old man.
Possibly more, but I have to wait for an update later in the day. I plan on camping out (either at work in our conference room or at home on the couch) to watch the inauguration itself, though.