A Most Extraordinary Day for the US of A
By David Feldman at 19 January, 2009, 1:58 pm
When one looks for synonyms for the word “inauguration,” you get commencement, induction, initiation, inaugural, institution, investiture, launch, opening, setting up. It seems that tomorrow’s swearing-in of President-elect Barack Obama is all of these things. In a first ever, my son’s school will have all students in a special assembly to watch the festivities.
Your political persuasion is irrelevant. Indeed, where you live doesn’t even matter. It seems that, tomorrow, the world will be American. Our country has always faced scorn in many corners of the globe. Sometimes it remains hidden when vast sums are transferred to the otherwise scorners. When we stand up to tyranny and terrorism, the scorn becomes more visible. That has happened in particular since the attacks of 9/11.
But somehow, this is different, for many reasons. The world economy is in a tailspin and many are clueless as to how to respond. Terrorism and religious fanaticism continue mostly unabated. The world seems impressed that “those cowboy” Americans went and elected an intellectual, a dynamo, a confident yet not cocky defender of liberty who, oh yeah, is also African American. Obama’s daughter said to him, “If you’re the first black President, you better be good.”
Here in America, it seems everyone is rooting for the guy. If for no other reason than none of us wants to see him flop and have our country and economy suffer for the next four years. If he governs from the center, as it appears he will, he will make more friends than enemies, and he will get things done.
Please, though, Mr. O, let’s not use this economic turmoil as an excuse for unnecessary spending and incurrence of debt. Let’s go with the Goldilocks approach – not too hot, not too cold, jussssst right. Good luck BO, we’re all behind you.
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