Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Becoming America, Again.

From President Obama's Congressional Address:
"We are a nation that has seen promise amid peril, and claimed opportunity from ordeal. Now we must be that nation again."

This is a president who inspires. But, he also gave it to us straight, talked to us like adults and told us what a crumbling, bumbling mess we are in.

The type of thinking that led to the rich running away with the golden spoon and the rest of us grasping for the "no money down" brass ring, brought us here. America became an ethicless, greedy bunch of you-know-whats and so many of us fell for it or allowed it to happen.

Now, we've got to fix it and it begins with a change in that GOPish type of thinking that separates the rich from the rest. This president knows you can't eliminate the middle and ignore the bottom and still have a strong union. We are all connected and all valuable and we must all invest in each other doing well.

"As we stand at this crossroads of history, the eyes of all people in all nations are once again upon us, watching to see what we do with this moment, waiting for us to lead.

Those of us gathered here tonight have been called to govern in extraordinary times. It is a tremendous burden, but also a great privilege, one that has been entrusted to few generations of Americans, for in our hands lies the ability to shape our world, for good or for ill.

I know that it's easy to lose sight of this truth, to become cynical and doubtful, consumed with the petty and the trivial.

But in my life, I have also learned that hope is found in unlikely places, that inspiration often comes not from those with the most power or celebrity, but from the dreams and aspirations of ordinary Americans who are anything but ordinary."

Ain't that the truth.

How lucky are we to live now in this hard and challenging time? President Obama reminded us that it's in times like these that America is at her best. History shows, in times like these we seem to shine and progress and be our most innovative, inventive and eventually most prosperous. Already I've noticed people coming up with bold ideas they never would have thought of if it weren't for this crisis. Americans putting on their thinking caps again. I see great strides ahead in medicine, ecology, and energy. I just know we will tire of being inconvenienced as crumbling schools, roads and bridges are repaired.
I wonder what will this great period in American history be called?



The Bob the Builder period.

Can we fix it?
Yes We Can!

4 comments:

Chris said...

Jackie that was beautiful...is it okay if I send people over to read that?

Jackie said...

Chris, thanks and please do.

Green tea said...

Wonderful words Jackie..
What will this time in history be called? How about

The Enlightenment Period :D

Jackie said...

Sounds good!