Change, my dear--and it seems not a moment too soon.
Wow. Here we are.
We all realize by this point that getting Mr. Obama into office is only the beginning of ameliorating the state of the nation. However, no matter what does or doesn't happen in the next four (or eight) years,* we can fairly say that we've accomplished something. Even without touching on the significance of finally, finally electing an African American President--and the folks who come back with "what, are we using the 'one drop' rule again?" can take a hike, because the fact is that Partly Anything Else is almost always seen as Not White by white Americans--and the promise that extends to other minorities, women, LGBT, minority faiths, and atheists, we still chose hope over fear. It's facile to say, but it's true, at least by a 6% margin. We chose the rational, the positive, and the idea of unity. There was cheap rhetoric on both sides, but the one with less fear and less hate actually got somewhere.
All of which is a longwinded way of saying: I feel no compunction whatsoever for being hopeful. Nor is the feeling empty or frivolous, thanks.
Anyway, on a less pretentious note:
-I <3 my bosses: About 11:30, after we'd spent all morning glued to the pixelated and stuttering CNN feed anyway, the doc came out and suggested we ditch the office and go watch it in HD at his house. This we did, and it was win.
-You know, I voted for him, I volunteered for his campaign, and I look forward to seeing what he does in his work as President, but like Lindsay Lohan, he really doesn't change expressions.
-LOL Oath Fumble. It wouldn't be as amusing if he weren't already established as one of the best orators we've currently got running.
-The speech: I was not transported by most of it, but I was by some of it. In any case, it served its function admirably, which was not so much to look good in a history book (though it'll look fine), but to set the tone for the administration and hopefully for public attitude, especially re: "Grow the fuck up, America." I can't count the number of times I heard social conservatives crying out for old-fashioned values during the campaign. Gosh, that sounds like old-fashioned values to me.
-Shallowly, Ms. Obama, I fangirl you. Or not so shallowly. Whatever. I quite like the way you can attend political functions, with or without your husband, and project the sense that you are, like, a separate being from your spouse with Things To Do and everything; so often politcal wives seem... not to. And yer brains. They are nice. Probably these things correllate.
-Obligatory Rick Warren grumble: Am I enraptured by the President's stance on marriage, or by Rev. Warren's appearance? No. Trust me, no. If I were in Obama's place, however, I'd probably do something similar. Maybe not as... prominently, but it is strategic. How much real influence the religious right will have on the current administration remains to be seen, but for now, ten minutes of Rev. Warren's inept oratory is something I can live with.
-Aretha Franklin FTW! Itzak Perlmann FTW! Gabriella FTW! John Williams, STFU!
-Happy Inauguration Day to everybody.
*For one thing, for any given presidency, half of the country will think it was the best thing ever and half the worst thing ever no matter what.
We all realize by this point that getting Mr. Obama into office is only the beginning of ameliorating the state of the nation. However, no matter what does or doesn't happen in the next four (or eight) years,* we can fairly say that we've accomplished something. Even without touching on the significance of finally, finally electing an African American President--and the folks who come back with "what, are we using the 'one drop' rule again?" can take a hike, because the fact is that Partly Anything Else is almost always seen as Not White by white Americans--and the promise that extends to other minorities, women, LGBT, minority faiths, and atheists, we still chose hope over fear. It's facile to say, but it's true, at least by a 6% margin. We chose the rational, the positive, and the idea of unity. There was cheap rhetoric on both sides, but the one with less fear and less hate actually got somewhere.
All of which is a longwinded way of saying: I feel no compunction whatsoever for being hopeful. Nor is the feeling empty or frivolous, thanks.
Anyway, on a less pretentious note:
-I <3 my bosses: About 11:30, after we'd spent all morning glued to the pixelated and stuttering CNN feed anyway, the doc came out and suggested we ditch the office and go watch it in HD at his house. This we did, and it was win.
-You know, I voted for him, I volunteered for his campaign, and I look forward to seeing what he does in his work as President, but like Lindsay Lohan, he really doesn't change expressions.
-LOL Oath Fumble. It wouldn't be as amusing if he weren't already established as one of the best orators we've currently got running.
-The speech: I was not transported by most of it, but I was by some of it. In any case, it served its function admirably, which was not so much to look good in a history book (though it'll look fine), but to set the tone for the administration and hopefully for public attitude, especially re: "Grow the fuck up, America." I can't count the number of times I heard social conservatives crying out for old-fashioned values during the campaign. Gosh, that sounds like old-fashioned values to me.
-Shallowly, Ms. Obama, I fangirl you. Or not so shallowly. Whatever. I quite like the way you can attend political functions, with or without your husband, and project the sense that you are, like, a separate being from your spouse with Things To Do and everything; so often politcal wives seem... not to. And yer brains. They are nice. Probably these things correllate.
-Obligatory Rick Warren grumble: Am I enraptured by the President's stance on marriage, or by Rev. Warren's appearance? No. Trust me, no. If I were in Obama's place, however, I'd probably do something similar. Maybe not as... prominently, but it is strategic. How much real influence the religious right will have on the current administration remains to be seen, but for now, ten minutes of Rev. Warren's inept oratory is something I can live with.
-Aretha Franklin FTW! Itzak Perlmann FTW! Gabriella FTW! John Williams, STFU!
-Happy Inauguration Day to everybody.
*For one thing, for any given presidency, half of the country will think it was the best thing ever and half the worst thing ever no matter what.