History Made

Let me just say as a HUGE history buff, today was BIG, GINORMOUS. Especially considering we celebrated and honored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. YESTERDAY. I thought of that on Sunday when Ryan and I were talking about the inauguration. Then this morning the news anchor on WGN Chicago, made the connection as well. They even played a part of an interview Dr. King gave in 1964. In the clip he predicted that we would have an African American President in 25 years. If he had been right, then in 1988 would have been THE election (by the way, Rev. Jesse Jackson ran for President that year). But Dr. King was only 20 years off.

When I went to school, I was unsure if I was going to be able to watch the inauguration. But the principal announced that they would cut 4th hour short, in order to give the students time to make it to 5th hour and watch the swearing in. It was manditory for all teachers to have their TVs on. I had to leave towards the end of the speech to take a kid to lunch. It was awesome to walk through the hallways and hear the speech coming out of every classroom.

And what a speech it was. If you don't agree with his politics or voted for him or not, you gotta admit: President Obama can deliver a speech. Here are some of the highlights for me:

"On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord."

"We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness."

"For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life. For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth. For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn."

"And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account — to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day — because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government."

"Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and we are ready to lead once more."

"We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you."

"For we know that our patchwork heritage (I like that wording) is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers."

"To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist. To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds." (This made me think of Zimbabwe)

"Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends — honesty and hard work, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism — these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history."

"So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled."

And in closing: "America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations."

~Lori