It's official, there's a brother in the White House. As you know, I'm a huge fan of President Obama (wow, it's for real). I can't wait to see what he can do. I watched the speech with one eye and listened with one ear because I had to work, but I liked what I caught. A few things that stuck out:
It has not been the path for the faint-hearted, for those who prefer
leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame.
Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things -- some celebrated, but more often men and women obscure in their labor -- who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.
But by the time he got to "For us, they fought and died in places Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn," he sounded like Walter from the Big Lebowski.
This was good and got a good response from the crowd: "We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost." Obviously, distinguishing himself from Bush here.
Fluttering of the heart, eyes getting damp:
Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions — who suggest
that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short.
For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and
women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.
What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath
them — that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no
longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big
or too small, but whether it works — whether it helps families find jobs at a
decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the
answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will
end. Those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account — to
spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day —
because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their
government.
From here on the speech was perfect, both presently poignant and timeless. If you watched it, watch it again, read it, then watch it again.
This quote from the O.G. (Original George) was great: "Let it be told to the future world ... that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet (it)."
And this ending is going to be in playback for generations to come. Ending with the quote from George Washington and explaining it in this great oratorical prose to be relevant today reminded me of the cover of The Clash's London Calling. Their record cover was a tribute to the King of Rock, Elvis Presley, and also prototypically punk. Obama's speech also went back to the roots (presidential, instead of musical) to give us something highly relevant today:
America, in the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship,
let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave
once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said
by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this
journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes
fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great
gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.
