16 Responses to “A New Day in America”

1. Xman says:

   Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 9:27 am

   Adding to my similar feelings, is surprise that Bush apparently will not be issuing last minute pardons to his administration. If I remember anything good about Bush, it will be that…even if he didn’t do it out of some sort of continuing arrogance and bluff.

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2. Lynne says:

   Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 1:18 pm

   To issue a pardon is to admit to a wrongdoing. Nobody in the Bush administration thinks they did anything illegal or wrong.

   As I watched the faces at the inauguration—Asian American face with hands clasped in prayer and hope; African American face with tears flowing freely; European American face full of joy and hope; and so many others—I felt for the first time in my 50 years that I live in the UNITED States of America. Nice feeling. I hope it lasts.

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3. JoeC says:

   Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 4:45 pm

   You know, I think I feel proudest when emphasis is put on the melting pot aspect of America. Mutts are the best!!!

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4. pelmo says:

   Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 6:13 pm

   Like you Joe I hope all these promises are kept and that unity feeling continues. I hope all that patriotism after 9/11 and how quickly it all disappeared is not repeated again.Our attention span becomes shorter with each passing generation.

   When my parents and I came here along with the millions before us, the immigrants did indeed melt in and became one nation. They may have lived in their select communities. Buisnesses had foreign sounding names, but everything else was in english. People went to night school to learn the language and become citizens.

   Now in many communities everything is in a foreign language and only flags of that nation are displayed. People are unwilling to learn our language and demand we learn theirs.

   People wanted to become citizens because they were proud to be called Americans. Now the only reason for becoming a citizen is for the benefits it brings.

   I was very surprised when I spoke with people in lithuania and Ireland last year, that coming to America is no longer a dream of theirs. They are more then happy to remain right where they are. Even with the exceptionaly strong Euro, tourists didn’t come in droves.

   I hope I am wrong as oh heck and that things will start to improve. I will need more then promises to start believing.

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5. Indigobusiness says:

   Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 7:45 pm

   I’ve always blamed the Irish, until I found out about Lithuanians. Too bad Bush didn’t invade those…

   Just kidding, Pelmo, and all the fine Irish out there. But it’s true my Scotch-Irish side is a real troublemaker, I always thought it would be the other, more high-falutin’, side. Just goes to show that hybrid vigor gives our muttly, melting pot Americanism it’s cajones. We were once a peaceful people, willing to fight over things like liberty and justice. Maybe, with real leadership, we can find our way home?

   Regarding Bush and the fear he would pardon villains: Perhaps he shocked the world by not abusing this awesome power in a fit of perverse spite? Maybe the power not to pardon his cronies was his last power fix? The ironic surprise in this is not an abuse of power in action, but in abrogation…by not pardoning any of the many out there unjustly incarcerated. He, again, managed to cleverly drop the ball, after all.

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6. Xman says:

   Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 10:23 pm

   Pelmo,
   I’m less sure than most that the “patriotism” I saw expressed after 9/11 was all that healthy.
   The true compassion I saw expressed was healthy, but all too often it seemed coupled with blind rage and hate.

   I think a lot of that reaction was both created and used by our leaders to an evil advantage.
   Certainly the demonization of France and anyone else who disagreed with us in our rush to revenge was not admirable. I’m not sure I would call those reactions “patriotism”. Certainly saying: “If you are not with us, you are against us”, is contrary to freedom of both though and speech.

   Certainly, the racial attacks, slurs, profiling, etc. that still exist to some extent today, is not healthy, nor is it patriotic…in spite of the Bush Gang trying to write into our laws “the end justifies the means”…even when it is contrary to our laws.

   If we had come together in a reasonable and lawful manner and pursued honest justice, instead of lynching the easiest target, then I would have called that patriotism.

   To me, patriotism is honoring the letter and the spirit of our laws and constitution, which really honors our people…something the mob mentality of the post 9/11 era saw precious little of.

   Indigo,
   I’m inclined to agree that Bush and team followed the same kind of rational in not granting the pardons that he used in the rest of the presidency. After all, he really doesn’t think he did anything wrong, so why would he change.

   Joe,
   I’m a Scottish, German and a touch of Crow Indian (according to family legend). I’m not sure I have an edge on anyone, especially Blue Bloods. I seem to have their ability to be a real A**H*** without even trying.

   As far as Obama goes: Everytime I turn on the TV and Obama and wife, family, etc., it is like I’m watching a chik flik…and I hate chik fliks, but I’m lovin’ the Obama’s.

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7. Indigobusiness says:

   Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 6:58 am

   Xman, I think you nailed down a big part of the problem in America. It was shocking to see how eagerly our country embraced the small-minded, self-serving jingoism Bush doled out after 911. Our spirit as a great nation seemed to shrink two sizes, like the Grinch’s heart. We suddenly seemed Neanderthal.

   It feels like we’ve emerged from our cave of shadows and are trying on a new set of eyes. I sure hope so.

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8. pelmo says:

   Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 10:34 am

   Xman I take my hat off to you on describing exactly what happened after 9/11. Never saw it put that way, but you are 110% correct.

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9. LaSirena says:

   Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 3:20 pm

   This post really captures how I’ve been feeling. As in, how exciting that someone has inspired us to try to be our best because he says he is willing to try.

   I think Preisdent Obama can walk his talk. According to the news, it sounds like he has done more for us in one day than Bush did in 8 years.

   http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090121/ap_on_go_pr_wh/obama_day_one

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10. Indigobusiness says:

    Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 4:37 pm

    Sirena- Yeah, man. It is just a stark reminder of the power of genuine sincerity. The attitude, alone, of being open and honest has a magical quality, given the polluted atmosphere it replaces.

    May doublespeak die a swift death.

    Onward…

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11. JoeC says:

    Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 5:40 pm

    I also like the fact that the administration seems to have its ears wide open: http://citizensbriefingbook.change.gov/

    Yes, it could be just for show, but judging by events that transpired during the campaign, the new leadership is paying close attention to the minds of the citizens they were elected to server, which is how it should be, no? Hopefully, both leaders and citizens can keep the conversation going.

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12. Xman says:

    Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 5:56 pm

    Hey Joe,
    I checked out http://www.change.gov, but it no longer exists. For some reason your link still works though.
    I went to http://www.whitehouse.gov and found a “briefing room”, but nothing like you link.
    There may be something similar, but I can’t find it.

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13. JoeC says:

    Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 7:16 pm

    Xman, when you go to http://www.change.gov, instead of going to the big whitehouse.gov link, look down at the bottom right and click on the small “continue on to change.gov” link. Inside the change.gov site, there is a link to the citizens briefing book link…yet another site where they’ve bundled up all the suggestions from people. And, reading through the suggestions on different topics, there are some really good ideas…posts have a vote up/vote down feature, so you can sort each topic by most popular ideas, and they’re really interesting…a great way to tap into the smarts of the population and letting the population have the task of floating the gems to the top of the idea heap and burying their own coal…

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14. Xman says:

    Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 11:37 pm

    Thanks Joe.
    I see the great ideas, but it looks like they are done taking ideas, comments and votes.
    Unless that is another glitch with my beta IE 8.

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15. JoeC says:

    Thursday, January 22, 2009 at 8:22 pm

    I think (hope…) that it’s just taking a bit of time to get the old whitehouse.gov web site updated with more interactive stuff, and it’s sort of hinted at on this page: http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/opl/

    But, I can’t find anything that says so for sure. I really liked that change.gov site where people could vote an issue up or down…maybe it’s less scientific, but for some reason I liked it better than the current method: Corporate-owned news media polls that framed their poll questions to tilt the response toward the desired feedback.

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16. Xman says:

    Friday, January 23, 2009 at 10:06 am

    Thanks for the link, Joe.
    Yeah, it will work until they get something new.

    I’ve known for a long time that I’m not much of an internet navigator.
    I think I must be related to Amelia Earharts navigator, Fred Noonan.
    “Just fly, Amelia! I know where we are….now where’s that bottle?”

    Reply

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