thoughts on the inauguration
I'm sitting on my bum watching it on tv. the inaug. i don't regret that - it looks freezing, and it looks like i wouldn't be able to see anything.
so anyway it was very interesting - i enjoy analyzing political speeches, and this one was interesting. i'm writing this before reading the news, because i think they'll say it was the greatest speech etc.
i don't think the speech could ever be one of the great ones, as he spoke a lot about current issues - the economy, technology, etc, that will be meaningless to a reader 50 years from now. i was impressed that he acknowledged that there were 'non-believers' in America, he invoked the Bible at several points. There was a little more militaristic breast beating than i expected, and i'm sure the promise that America is ready to lead the world again raised a few eyebrows (mine included). However, this wasn't really a speech for the ages. it was a speech for now. The catch-phrase from the speech, i'm sure, was that America needed to 'pick itself up and dust itself off' - this sentiment sounds good now, and is easy to write because the economy will naturally right itself over the next four years, but i think he could have taken more responsibility for righting the economy as President, rather than telling Americans to fix it.
Finally, Obama talked about all the faiths in America, but there were two Christian prayers. as my first inauguration this was probably the most surprising aspect. I don't think it a 'great' speech for the ages, but i think it was an adequate salute to the young voters who voted for 'hope', who were told to keep hoping.
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i thought a lot in bed last night, because i haven't 'gotten' a lot of the history. i think the reason i haven't gotten it, is because i haven't understood what Victory there is for black America when the first black President hasn't shared their heritage of repression and slavery, didn't grow up in a traditional black community. It also seems to me that only HALF the people watching can now think 'anything is possible' - can women feel that yet? i don't know.
it was a very interesting process.
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edit: hilarie just read me the best quite ever from Gawker: "i'm so inspired that a lawyer from Harvard can become President"
so anyway it was very interesting - i enjoy analyzing political speeches, and this one was interesting. i'm writing this before reading the news, because i think they'll say it was the greatest speech etc.
i don't think the speech could ever be one of the great ones, as he spoke a lot about current issues - the economy, technology, etc, that will be meaningless to a reader 50 years from now. i was impressed that he acknowledged that there were 'non-believers' in America, he invoked the Bible at several points. There was a little more militaristic breast beating than i expected, and i'm sure the promise that America is ready to lead the world again raised a few eyebrows (mine included). However, this wasn't really a speech for the ages. it was a speech for now. The catch-phrase from the speech, i'm sure, was that America needed to 'pick itself up and dust itself off' - this sentiment sounds good now, and is easy to write because the economy will naturally right itself over the next four years, but i think he could have taken more responsibility for righting the economy as President, rather than telling Americans to fix it.
Finally, Obama talked about all the faiths in America, but there were two Christian prayers. as my first inauguration this was probably the most surprising aspect. I don't think it a 'great' speech for the ages, but i think it was an adequate salute to the young voters who voted for 'hope', who were told to keep hoping.
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i thought a lot in bed last night, because i haven't 'gotten' a lot of the history. i think the reason i haven't gotten it, is because i haven't understood what Victory there is for black America when the first black President hasn't shared their heritage of repression and slavery, didn't grow up in a traditional black community. It also seems to me that only HALF the people watching can now think 'anything is possible' - can women feel that yet? i don't know.
it was a very interesting process.
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edit: hilarie just read me the best quite ever from Gawker: "i'm so inspired that a lawyer from Harvard can become President"