To my children on Inauguration Day,
Today President Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of this country. I sat in the lunchroom at work today watching the inauguration with my co-workers as it happened. People cried and cheered. I've never seen an inauguration day like today. Typically it just passes by without a notice. I freely admit that I have been anxiously awaiting this day. To me Obama represents a very new type of leadership for this country. He has truly been chosen as the agent of Hope rather than falling into the same trend of fear that is so often used in politics. He is educated, eloquent and focused on what must be done. I am very optomistic for what America will be under his leadership.
Additionally, this election is historic because we have for the first time sworn in an African American as our president. I think it is wonderful that you will never have known a time when there had never been a black president. I predict that by the time the two of you are adults there will have been a female president as well. It is a wonderful thing that the "melting pot" will not just be something that you are taught about in school as I was but that you will see as a given in life.I love you both!
Love,
Mom
"Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America — they will be met."
"On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord. On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics."
"This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed — why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath. "
"In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations."
"Thank you. God bless you. And God bless the United States of America."
Today President Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of this country. I sat in the lunchroom at work today watching the inauguration with my co-workers as it happened. People cried and cheered. I've never seen an inauguration day like today. Typically it just passes by without a notice. I freely admit that I have been anxiously awaiting this day. To me Obama represents a very new type of leadership for this country. He has truly been chosen as the agent of Hope rather than falling into the same trend of fear that is so often used in politics. He is educated, eloquent and focused on what must be done. I am very optomistic for what America will be under his leadership.
Additionally, this election is historic because we have for the first time sworn in an African American as our president. I think it is wonderful that you will never have known a time when there had never been a black president. I predict that by the time the two of you are adults there will have been a female president as well. It is a wonderful thing that the "melting pot" will not just be something that you are taught about in school as I was but that you will see as a given in life.I love you both!
Love,
Mom
"Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America — they will be met."
"On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord. On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics."
"This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed — why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath. "
"In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations."
"Thank you. God bless you. And God bless the United States of America."
Hal Donahue: "Complete strangers of all classes and shades hugged and talked and cried. On Tuesday, the immigrant cab driver taking us away from the mall to a hotel was literally crying with equal measures of joy and astonishment. This was massive change and everyone knew it. The road ahead will be long and uphill but for this one day; we celebrated the victory of our time.
Make no mistake. Tuesday was a revolution. We, the people, came together to make it very clear that this is a revolution."
