I spent the morning watching the inaugural ceremony on CNN.com. I have been very struck by the timing of this inauguration - the day after Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. We watched the "I Have A Dream" speech last night as part of Family Home Evening, then we sang My Country, Tis of Thee with the kids. It was absolutely thrilling to listen to Aretha Franklin sing the same song this morning before President Obama took the oath of office.
I have said before that I don't agree with all of Pres. Obama's ideology, but I have great respect for him: for his abilities as a writer and especially as an orator; for his dedication to wife and family; for his ability to inspire multitudes with love of country; for his ability to unite vastly different people in a common cause. I expected a stirring inaugural address, and was not disappointed. His mood seemed somber, but I recognize his acceptance of the great responsibilities as President of these great United States. Following is my favorite part of his address. Even two hours later when NPR replayed a part of the second paragraph, I was moved to tears - again.
For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. 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. 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.
Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends — hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism — these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility — a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.
This is the price and the promise of citizenship.
This is the source of our confidence — the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.
Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends — hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism — these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility — a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.
This is the price and the promise of citizenship.
This is the source of our confidence — the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.
God bless America!!! And may the Lord protect President Obama and his family from harm and bless him with wisdom as he makes decisions for the people of the USA.
1 comment:
yeah, that was one impressive speech and I was also touched by that particular part. Jamie's workplace announced they will not be giving raises this year. Jamie's good friend, who was away from his family working the weekdays in another state for months, is upset and says he's going to look for another job. But I was grateful that they were doing that instead of cutting jobs. Now, true my husband's still a new guy so I especially don't want to see job cuts, but I think that was the brave and right thing to do.
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