2009-01-20

Ain't That America

Before I comment on Obama's inaugural speech let us begin with a quote from The Simpsons:

Ned: Well, tippety-top of the A.M. to every-good-body here. As chairman of the PTA, I am de-diddley-lighted to take over here and I think I can put the "pal" back in "principal".
[everyone laughs]

Chalmers: Heh heh, yeah. And I'll put the "super" back in "superintendent". [one person coughs] It's the same exact joke. What gives, Leo?

That was some crowd, eh?

About that inaugural speech. There was much to take from it (like the fact that we can all expect more big government) or how Obama personifies the civil rights movement. Or how he's the embodies the spirit of Frederick Douglass, W.E.B. Du Bois, Rosa Parks and Jackie Robinson. I can't imagine what it meant to African-Americans.

The part I especially liked was when he told nations it's time to stop blaming the West for their ills. It's time to press nations to quit that part of their national rhetoric.

Whenever I hear an American president give a speech I'm always moved by the promise and hope America represents. As I've said many times here on this blog, America is the last line of defense when it comes to our Western traditions and heritage: democracy, liberty, rule of law and all that jazz.

For me, Obama's impressive speech was no different in its inherent message than any other past speech made by a President; that is, America's national experience and historical legacy.

Which brings me to the above Simpsons quote. Let's pretend Obama is Ned and Bush is Chalmers. As Obama spoke, I thought about dear old President Bush and what he must have been thinking for he pretty much said the same things yet you could hear a monkey cough.

Perception is a tricky thing. Both men could say the same things but only one would be applauded.

I don't know. It's my perception.

I do know one thing: President Obama can count on France to play the part of the contrarian.

Cough.

5 comments:

  1. Anonymous1/21/2009

    I also liked when he said some nations (the Muslim nations mainly?) should stop blaming the West for their ills. Yes, they should roll up their sleeves, instead of complaining all the time. He also added that those nations and their leaders will be judged by world opinion by what they construct and not by what they destroy. Well said indeed.

    He probably said things – as you point out - that other Presidents have said about American legacy etc. But, being he a special man ('real', charismatic etc. as you said) and being this a very special moment for American history (cold icy winds are blowing, he said at the end), all this makes this speech a very special speech indeed, in my view.

    One thing only. When he emphasized with idealism I think (his father being from Kenya), that America should help the poor countries, the audience didn't much clap hands. I was struck. No more idealism on this. Americans seem now probably more concentrated on their problems, which, to a certain extent, is understandable.

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  2. The problem with idealism is that people hold you to it. America sets high standard and when they have a had time reaching it people call them on it. If you haven't noticed, it's gotten America into all sorts of problems. Europe still sees it as naive.

    I don't know why they didn't clap. Maybe they were just cold and weren't listening.

    I also wondered about this whole "media is liberal" thing. Of course, I've heard be called "conservative." i.e. Fox versus the other networks.

    It's hard to determine it (although some are more obvious than others. wish they would just come out and say it) some if they're an all too willing participant in the Church of Obama.

    The other ironic thing is that media is often accused of being a shill for the government, will they be so for Obama? Will people who claim this tolerate it now?

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  3. Excuse the bad grammar.

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  4. Here's another issue: will Obama isolate the left? After all, he campaigned on a leftist agenda.

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