I wept today. It couldn't be helped. My tears could not be stopped.
He said he could. He did.
He won. We won.
Oh, what a day. Oh, what a time.
I will not forget the televised images I saw today. A huge crowd of smiling, happy people who radiated hope and trust and belief in the possible. A sea of faces of every color, shape and hue standing where once slaves in tents lived while building the capital. A sea of faces exuding pride looking towards the first black president of the United States of America.
And today I, too, am a proud American.
I wept in pride and joy and hope.
He said he could. He did.He won. We won.
Oh, what a day. Oh, what a time.
I will not forget the televised images I saw today. A huge crowd of smiling, happy people who radiated hope and trust and belief in the possible. A sea of faces of every color, shape and hue standing where once slaves in tents lived while building the capital. A sea of faces exuding pride looking towards the first black president of the United States of America.
And today I, too, am a proud American.
I wept in pride and joy and hope.
I cannot remember a time in my life with so much excitement, so much hope and optimism in the changing of the guard. Now, this man, this young Barack Obama, now President Obama, has come to lift our hearts and rekindle our spirits.
Yes, he calls upon our higher instincts for love and generosity, responsibility and accountability to one another for the common. He calls us to service; he acknowledges difficult times ahead. Yes the times will be hard, that is clear. But I have the feeling that he will be truthful with the American people. I believe we can trust him. I have not felt that for a very long time.
After Nixon. Watergate. The failed Carter administration. The mean-spiritedness engendered by Reagon. Disappointment in the unfulfilled potential of Clinton. The last dismal and long eight years of Bush the Son. After 40-odd years of feeling let down by various administrations, there is a wonderful lightness in my heart. Today I wept but my heart sang.
Yes, he calls upon our higher instincts for love and generosity, responsibility and accountability to one another for the common. He calls us to service; he acknowledges difficult times ahead. Yes the times will be hard, that is clear. But I have the feeling that he will be truthful with the American people. I believe we can trust him. I have not felt that for a very long time.
After Nixon. Watergate. The failed Carter administration. The mean-spiritedness engendered by Reagon. Disappointment in the unfulfilled potential of Clinton. The last dismal and long eight years of Bush the Son. After 40-odd years of feeling let down by various administrations, there is a wonderful lightness in my heart. Today I wept but my heart sang.
4 comments:
Pat,
Do I ever hear you. I wept, too. I wept through Aretha's soulful song and Rev. Lowery's heartfelt benediction and through much of the inaugural address.
For the first time in I don't know how long I feel like it really means something to be an American. That this is not just an address but an identity. For a lot of us, THIS day is morning in America. We have been waiting our whole lives for it.
David
Oh yes oh yes. You said it best: "we have been waiting our whole lives" for this time. And like you I wept when Aretha sang and Rev Lowery spoke and when I Ali climb perilously to his seat and when the beautiful Obama family sat together looking for all the world like ordinary people. And I wept and I wept.....in joy in joy in joy!
Nice post Pat!!
I cried too!!!
Ok, And I'm German but I can understand you and I wept too. I hope ours believe are true
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