Tuesday, January 20, 2009

If You Can't Beat 'Em, Join 'Em

I walked outside on this bitterly cold afternoon and began defeatedly picking this sticker off the back of my car. Can you see that I tried every corner? It just refused to come off. While this is sad to me,...knowing George W. is gone for good, I do have the excitement of change stirring in my heart. Do I agree with all of Obama's politics? Most certainly not. However, I do believe that he is a leader devoted to doing what he believes is best for our country. I believe that he will work hard and try new things...things that might work. I've had some trouble watching people like Oprah or Matt Lauer, eager with excitement that this man is about to save our country. I've had an eery premonition that we may be watching clips of their excitement a few years from now when things aren't as glorious as anticipated. I hope I'm wrong. I really do.

My favorite line from his inaugural address was this:

"What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility, a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize grandly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task. This is the price and promise of citizenship."

If this is the heart behind his new plan, then I have hope that we'll be Ok. I believe what is fundamentally wrong with our country today is that we've grown lazy and arrogant. I hope this economic crisis teaches our generation to work harder, not take for granted that we will be cared for tomorrow, and revitalizes the ambition and integrity that our country was founded upon. Sometimes it takes a kick in the pants to do that, and I would much rather be kicked in my wallet than my face. Today, we are safe; we have watched the successful, peaceful transfer of power that sets our country apart from so many others; we have made a black man President of the United States of America and for all these things I am proud.

So for now, I'll be here gearing up to be a smiling supporter of our new president, and trying to finish picking this sticker off my car.

6 comments:

No Longer Newlyweds. said...

Hey Abby.
Watching the Inaguration today was an interesting experience. I didn't vote for Obama, but I have decided to support him and pray that he can help fix our country. I was totally shocked by the turnout...TONS of people. It can't help but make you feel motivated for the future of our country.

Holly said...

Well said. I struggled today and think that I might have been able to enjoy the inauguration if it were not for the commentary by the liberal media. You'd think that today marked the second coming of Christ. I am hopeful that he will be successful. However if he's not, we'll never hear about it b/c the media wouldn't dare report on that!

Anonymous said...

Ditto, friend. I had just finished posting similar thoughts when I read this...great minds, you know. :)

Kendall Boggs said...

I am in awe of what today has brought for this country. I am so very sad at how the media/country has treated someone who has done so much for our country. How easily we forget 9/11 and the fact that George Bush has kept us safe for 7 years. It will take years for us to realize the extent to which Bush went to provide safety to our country. (our number one priority). I pray for George Bush and his family. He must feel like he's been slapped in the face. I support our new president because he is "our" president. He is NOT God and it concerns me that so many folks are making him out to be. Very dangerous. At the risk of sounding like a total downer, there is no possible way that one man can live up to the expectations that the people of this world have for him. Now, with that being said, it is exciting seeing the world getting so interested in politics. My prayer is that those same people are not going to be too disappointed.

Anonymous said...
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Gail said...

I, too, join you in prayer. Lets pray, too...the PRESS doesn't continue to make him..."All that and a bag of chips" I was thinking...He isn't really the first "black" Pres... As he is...half white and black...It would be like me thinking..We have the first...German Pres...since my mother was so...but forgetting where my other half (father) came from...Sweden...Hmmm...just a thought...Also...Obama isn't and never will be a god...Our children should remain looking up to the heavens to find that. I wish him well, but I refuse to think he is the KING of KINGS... We need a lot of faith, love, and prayer right now! I enjoy catching up on all your past thoughts, too! You Wise OLE' Bird!!! LOL... Enjoy that new pup and those darling girls and hubby... Life is good! Thank you, Sweet Jesus!!!!