Inaugural Thoughts

First of all, my initial thoughts on this Inauguration are the same as every Inauguration. That is that I feel blessed to live in a country where power is transferred not just peacefully, but with celebration and pageantry. In a world where less powerful head positions of state are held onto and fought over, the way the Presidency transists from one leader to another is another shining example of the fruits of America's ideals but can be taken for granted by people who think of it arrogant of the United States to try to spread democracy to the world.

It has become almost impossible to separate race from politics but I will attempt to do so. Because while it is prudent to debate Barack Obama's politics, it should be lost on nobody the significance of yesterday's inauguration on African-Americans. For today a Black parent can be hopeful that their child will do their homework with aspirations of being President like Barack Obama and perhaps not so much a rapper or athlete like 50 Cent or Adam "Pacman" Jones. And for this the entire country is better off.

While I didn't vote for Barack Obama, I find him to be a very impressive politician. I know that the expectation is for him to be very liberal, and I'm sure he will do somethings especially in social issues to annoy conservatives in his first 100 days (with a 75% approval rating he can politcally afford to do so), but I also know as a student of Abraham Lincoln and knows that what solidified Lincoln's legacy was as much uniting the country during Reconstruction as it was winning the Civil War or emancipating the slaves. I expect him to be bipartisan which may even end up irking his liberal base.

Here is his Inaugural Address:



And since there's nothing better to do on the Internet that kill a few hours reading Inaugural Addresses you can find the text of all of them including yesterday's right here.

I watched yesterday's address through CNN's feed which partnered with Facebook. It included a feature where you could watch the festivities on the left and read newly updated Facebook statuses on the right. So I got to see classy commentary such as "Bruce Pinko (name made up)is finally proud to be an American" and "Deb Hippiestone (again name made up) is hoping someone pushes Dick Cheney down those stairs" while taking in the moment. This affirms my lowest expectation for Obama, that he will show a sense of grace unachievable by some of his supporters.

As for the outgoing President. I think history will be nothing but kinder to George W. Bush. That's not to say it will be kind. But as the verocity of his criticism weakens over time he will be more remembered for his leadership after 9/11, the removal of Saddam Hussein and keeping the country safe for 7 and half years and less for his shortcomings after the Iraq War, after Hurricane Katrina, and whatever he did to bring on this current economic crisis. Plus gas only went up 20 cents from the day he took office to the day he left. Good job.

While Bush sets very little example for Obama politically, he has set the example of relinquishing power by order of the American people as so many have done before him and as Obama will do either four or eight years from now. This alone is a cause for celebration.