rss‘We Are Finally Proud to Be Americans’
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 2:11 pm
- 6 Comments
One man’s short take after watching the Inauguration through the trees at the southern edge of the WWII Memorial:
There were few surprises through the ceremony, but there was no shortage of “changing-of-the-guard” symbolism — the recognition among the gathered that the Bush-era ends none too soon, and the pessimism of the last eight years might finally turn toward hope.
It came in the form of President Barack Obama’s calls for universal sacrifice — something the Bush administration never asked of the country as a whole, and for which we will long suffer the consequences.
It came in the form of the “Arrest Bush” signs that went up like a sea of butterflies when the now-former president appeared before the crowd on the National Mall’s giant screens.
It came in the form of the “Close Gitmo” protest at the western edge of the Washington Monument, where hooded inmates reminded the crowd of America’s sins — and of Obama’s promises to shutter the prison.
It came in the form of former Vice President Dick Cheney being pushed to the stage in a wheelchair, after hurting his back while moving.
It came in the form of Pastor Rick Warren invoking the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., which moved closer to being realized today.
And lastly, and perhaps put best, it came in the form of the guy who strutted up 19th Street after the show, the sign over his head proclaiming simply, “We Are Finally Proud to Be Americans.”
6 Comments
Comment posted January 20, 2009 @ 3:12 pm
Go back and read Obama's speech. It could have been delivered by President McCain if he had been elected without a single word changed.
Warren's invocation was sanctimonious, self-centered, and a blatant lie – considering his work as an anti-cvil rights political activist. It's a real shame he wasn't booed off the stage.
Comment posted January 20, 2009 @ 10:08 pm
Let the guy who strutted uo 19th Street speak for himself. It's a shame that the guy who is “finally proud to be an American” missed out on so much all of these years. I am 54 and have always been proud of who I am ( white American female), no matter who is president. And for those who want to “close Gitmo” – where do they propose we put these questionable people? Maybe they would like to put them up for a night or 2 in their homes…
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Comment posted January 21, 2009 @ 3:28 pm
Mike,
Well said! I am with you Brother! Finally proud indeed!
Comment posted February 21, 2009 @ 11:24 am
And now??? After we are still:
Rendering
Keeping Bagram open
Spying on Americans
Not totally stopping the torture option
Hiding still behind an exaggerated claim of National security
Holding 14 men in Guantanamo that we know have done no wrong because we “don't know what to do with them”
Admiring Rich Warren a bigot gay hater when he quotes Dr. King.
Not prosecuting the CRIMINALS for the CRIMINAL actions in the past administration
And finally, slowly going down the slippery slope of criminal actions “to keep us safe.”
Comment posted February 21, 2009 @ 7:24 pm
And now??? After we are still:
Rendering
Keeping Bagram open
Spying on Americans
Not totally stopping the torture option
Hiding still behind an exaggerated claim of National security
Holding 14 men in Guantanamo that we know have done no wrong because we “don't know what to do with them”
Admiring Rich Warren a bigot gay hater when he quotes Dr. King.
Not prosecuting the CRIMINALS for the CRIMINAL actions in the past administration
And finally, slowly going down the slippery slope of criminal actions “to keep us safe.”
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