Barack Obama was sworn in this morning as the 44th President of the United States of America and the first African American president in our young history. To call it an historic event would be an understatement. The complexion of our nation has changed forever and, in that respect, it’s a good thing. Most would argue it’s been long overdue.
In his inaugural address, he emphasized that we - all of us - must become part of the solution to America’s problems and that we’ll need to “sacrifice”. That’s the part that I wish he’d fleshed out. I’m a believer in descriptive sentences; generalizations leave me wondering. So I have some trepidation about exactly what sacrifices he means. Is he telling us to grin and bear higher taxes to support bigger government? The question looms like a gorilla in the proverbial room.
But for the moment, I’m trying to remain positive, even (dare I say it?) “hopeful” that he will guide the Congress and our nation back to prosperity. And I think everyone is on board with that. Time will tell. I think he’s a good man; it’s some of those who surround him that worry me.
I’ve linked to a transcript of the speech so you can dissect it as you wish. The cost of this inauguration - some are calling it a coronation - dwarfs by several times any in our history. That seems odd, if not inappropriate, considering these shaky financial times. But that’s fodder for another post and another day. Like I said, today I’m positive.