Spent the better part of this morning standing bundled and freezing along a railroad platform in southeastern Pennsylvania in hopes of glimpsing President-Elect Barack Obama's inaugural train. I was not disappointed (check my Flickr page for the full set). As the crowd gathered, I watched the people. Some brought their kids and their dogs. Some brought flags or Obama posters. Some brought stories about Jack and Bobby Kennedy.
But what struck me, as I stood shoulder-to-shoulder with fellow well-wishers, was that I was, at last, part of something not only larger than myself, but something in which I believed wholeheartedly: the recovery of America. And I don't just mean from the current economic hard times. But from our loss of conscience. Our loss of purpose. From secrecy and suspicion. From bickering and self-centered policy-making.
Corny as it may sound, standing along that platform, I found in myself a spark of (dare I say it) patriotism. I wish I could shake Mr. Obama's hand and thank him for that.
"From secrecy and suspicion."
Even two days ago I might have been able to agree with you there. Hubby has top-level security clearance. There are still plenty of secrets. Our new President has been briefed.
I'm struggling with it right now. We are not the type of couple who routinely keep secrets from each other. Now his entire line of work revolves around things only a select few can ever know, and I'm not one of them.
Timely post for me, that's all. Ignore my ramblings, thanks for letting me comment.
Posted by: Kermit | January 21, 2009 at 12:37 PM
Restricted access to national security information has been an American reality since the Revolutionary War. We (the public) would probably vomit if we knew the half of it. I wasn't suggesting total transparency.
I do however hope that this Administration will not dangle fear in front of us like a rubber spider every time they want to manipulate us into supporting things like torture.
Posted by: Charlie | January 21, 2009 at 01:37 PM
...but the alien spacecraft at Roswell NM... that's real, right? C'mon you can tell me. ;-)
Posted by: Charlie | January 21, 2009 at 01:40 PM
You do have a much more reasoned approach than I do; hopefully it's the approach I'll be back to once it settles down in my mind. It's fairly new and I'm getting older, I can't adapt as quickly anymore!
"I do however hope that this Administration will not dangle fear in front of us like a rubber spider every time they want to manipulate us into supporting things like torture."
I agree with that.
Posted by: Kermit | January 21, 2009 at 02:22 PM