A New Day in America
The stage is set, and the band is ready to play, and a new day in America is almost here…unless it turns out to be like so many other presidential inauguration days when promises were made and flags were waved but what was really going on was a nation fooling itself and making a lot of noise as an excuse to turn her eyes away from the tired, poor, huddled masses she was treading on.
But, America has accomplished great things, too, and if her indifferent citizens can steer the ship off course so quickly, so too can the same malcontent population right the ship with dizzying speed. Maybe the greatest thing about America is that people here can be flexible, and while flexibility has been scarce in the past few years, it seems to have returned in recent months.
Things are changing for sure. Will things change enough? Maybe; maybe not. But one thing I have noticed as the new administration is taking over: there’s a new emphasis on treating others with dignity and respect, and a belief that those who do most of the work should get rewarded with at least a little hint of a proportionate degree of our nation’s collective wealth. So far, it is nice to hear a shift in the propaganda toward a litany of fairness and reason and kindness instead of uninspired fear mongering.
Today, I’m proud to be an American, and at the same time humbled to be so lucky to have been born here. And until the new administration betrays its promises, I’m fine with putting a little faith in it, with the understanding that trust can’t be rebuilt overnight but has to be earned. And somehow, I think this administration gets that and understands that. And I think this administration also realizes that most Americans don’t mind contributing and making sacrifices — but only when their leader stops repeatedly commanding them to piss into the wind. Cheers to that new day!
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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.
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.
You know, I think I feel proudest when emphasis is put on the melting pot aspect of America. Mutts are the best!!!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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…
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.
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.
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…
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.
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.
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?”