Yes We Are -- Updated x2

I don’t have this thought often, but today I wish I were in America. All my family and friends there are positively giddy in the lead-up to Barack Obama being sworn in as our nation’s 44th President. I’d love to share it with them; I don’t recall an uplifted American mood like this in my lifetime. Perhaps there are older DODR readers who recall John F. Kennedy’s ascension? My grandmother had a framed photo of him on her wall until the day she died in 1991.

It’s late and been a long (good) day – I’m not sure I’ll make it to the live feed of the Inaugural Address – and I don’t have much to say. So I’ll turn it over to one Robert Creamer. I’d never heard of him, but his short essay over at The Huffington Post about Obama's vibrant, inspirational political tone and activity versus the catastrophe of the last eight years is excellent. Here are three choice excerpts:

“It just doesn't square with the right wing narrative. They painted Barack Obama as an unpatriotic, ‘terrorist sympathizing’ candidate whose values are foreign to the American way of life. How could it be that his ascendance to the presidency should be the occasion for the new patriotic spirit sweeping America?”

...

“Eight years ago, my wife, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, decided that – as painful as it was – she should attend the swearing in of George W. Bush. I accompanied her and sat with the other Congressional spouses. Most of the spouses that year were Republicans women who were decked out in diamonds and furs. Bush's speech was pretty unremarkable, with few applause lines - at least until he called for tax cuts. With that the fur bedecked spouse section leapt to its feet and gave the new president a standing ovation. How far we had come from ‘Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.’”

...

“Tomorrow will be a day that Americans will remember for years to come. It will be a day when most Americans – whatever their partisan bent – will feel particularly good about our country. But it will also be a day when people around the globe look at America differently than they did the day before. And they too will be inspired that everyday Americans mobilized successfully to take our country back – that America did not fail them. The world will celebrate that we chose to chart a future governed by the American principles that they have long admired – not the arrogance and selfishness they had come to loath.”

Please share your thoughts in the comments (Christian has promised to be on his best behavior).

Update: What a great inaugural address, a wonderful moment for America and, hopefully, the world as a whole. The size of the crowd was almost inconceivable, approaching that of the entire population of Mongolia! There's some good-natured joking around the Buddhist blogs that we were overlooked in this excerpt from the speech, but to paraphrase one commenter, as Buddhists, we don't believe in our way of life, we practice it. In any case, Obama's sentiment here is gorgeous:

“For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.”

Update II: Oh, I just love this. The 7th Graders at Harlem Village Academies blog their reactions to Obama's swearing-in and address.

Comments

[Kay in New Mexico]

Optimistic? You betcha. My old yellow tiger cat Fitch would do a better job running the nation than what we have observed during the last 8 years, and Obama will be MUCH better than Fitch, who sleeps too much.

We are an optimistic people, and I think that today's national level of emotion says much about our hope for better times - and our willingness to work for it. I remember JFK's inauguration, and in the past few weeks Obama has reminded me time and again of JFK's challenge of "Ask not what your country can do for you..."

[Ani Dara]

The camera was focused on his face as he walked to his swearing in - determination, humility, resolve, kindness, strength, leadership, fairness, meditative - I read all of this and more in his expression. His speech was magnificent. A president needs to inspire and lead, not posture and rule. He inspires and he leads. An amazing day that has changed the world.

[Janet in Seattle]

For as thrilling and moving as the speech was, and all the pomp and circumstance, I am most excited about the new policies and ACTIONS to come - the closing of Guantanamo, behaving with dignity in the world, making a difference at home. Not being an advanced bodhisattva, I chanted "git yer butt on that copter" to the old "president" and then sang and danced such a rousing chorus of "ding dong the witch is dead" as the helicopter flew away that I pretty much scared the bejeezus out of my dog! Woot. Serious woot.

[minnie]

i cried while the inauguration happened (i didn't get to see it, i was away from home, but damned if iwas going to miss it all together, soi listened to the radio). the overwhelming emotion was unstoppable.

yes we can, indeed

[sisLaura]

You know what's totally amazing is that those kids did not really mention race as much as hope, work, unity, positivity. Now that's really a tremendous impact. they're the next generation, and the impact of this presidency on them is likely through the roof. thanks for that link.

[Palzang]

I think it was a tremendous day not only for the us but for the whole world. One of my favorite images from a day full of favorite images was a schoolyard full of children in Kenya going crazy over Obama. He has brought hope to the world.

[Jane]

"For ... our patchwork heritage...a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus...and non-believers." ...a few more coins to you who care for all life, however small.

[Fernanda]

I have to say, I was thrilled by the inclusion of "non-believers". Got to be the first time atheists were acknowledged in an inaugural speech.

[Lama Kunzang]

I too noted the exclusion of Buddhists, but I must say, as a patriot, that it is wonderful to have a president I can respect and even, provisionally, trust.

[Konchog]

Well, Fernanda, my dear, in your case he might have said heathens like Esther from Sanford and Son but OK, I'm glad you're happy. (She's secretly reading Pema Chodron and thinking about meditating but shh! Don't tell!)

Lama Kunzang! We missed you, and wish you relief from the trials of your and Samaya's physical karma this year.

[Ryan]

As much as I ate up every minute of the day, I wasn't big on the "non-believer" term. We all believe in something, even if we believe in not believing! But if that is the biggest complaint I have from here on out, I will be a happy, happy, happy camper. (I, too, said rude things to the helicopter as it lifted off.)

[Sarabaite]

Have you noticed how busy this guy is? He's already tackling closing down the CIA prisons, "outsourced torture", and Gitmo. Sounds like he may have actually read the law, unlike other leaders.