President Barack Obama said he was taking office at a time of "gathering clouds and raging storms. That we are in the midst of crisis is now well-know." But the "time has come ... to begin again the work of remaking America." And we all have a role to play in that, a responsibility toward turning this dark time around to a new, better era.
UPDATE: Here is a link to the text of his speech, as prepared for delivery and released by the Presidential Inaugural Committee.
I thought the speech was riveting. I especially appreciated Obama's words about the hearkened change in race relations, as he reminded us that 60 years ago, his father could not be served in a restaurant. Mark Shields, PBS commentator corrected post-speech to "45 years."
My tears flowed to witness the swearing in of our first African American president. The other high point of the morning was Lowry's benediction that rocked and rolled with emotion. And obviously for me hearing Itzak Perlman, Yo Yo Ma, Gabriela Montera play Simple Gifts was simply out of this world.
Knowing that Obama is a master at speeches and a keen wordsmith, expecting something on the level of MLK's "I Have A Dream" speech, there had to be a bit of disappointment. But to be fair, it is unrealistic to expect that. Having said that, it was a darn good speech.
A wonderful and emotional day. May the optimism be warranted and productive.
What did he say?? I have never heard him say much of anything but then he is the "messiah" so he just has to open his mouth and breath.......
Oh, right, he is going to give all to everyone. No wonder people(the media)are so elated.
Give me a break! When did we completely leave the real world? Is everyone getting a tingle up their leg?
Exellent orators are expected to deliver great oratory. Is it known what President Obama thinks of "ODES TO OBAMA"?
Here is mine, inspired by Erato
It does not matter what's his name,
But odes to him; that's pretty lame.
Holy! Holy! Saint Obama
Simply loco we have gonna.
Being gauche and indiscrete
Let me lie before his feet;
Which are proper off the white
Not like ours far too light.
One thing yet is really known
Our common sense is blown.
Totally missed it . Iwas in the car on the way to an appt. I thought it would be on the radio but it wasn't. I am sure it will be replayed numerous times so maybe I will catch one of the replays. Obamas writers are good. I dont think he writes his own speeches.
Wow, the cynics are out in force today. (By the way, Anita, there is a link to the text of the speech in Lisa's message up there, just, you know, in case you want to address what he actually said.)
I thought it was a very good speech. Like Mr. Meyer said, it wasn't quite an "I have a dream" speech, but then few speeches are. I think he did a good job of setting the tone for his administration, and there was plenty of inspirational material in there, for those who are willing to be inspired. Overall, it was a call for renewed optimism, and to get busy and get to work making this a better country.
I was surprised that one of the beehives most enlightened bloggers decided that those who find "Odes to Obama" a trifle excessive, are cynics. This is a republic in the 21st century and not a site below Olympus or Asgard et.al..
I was actually addressing the responses to the inaugural address, Ms. Lawson. I haven't had a chance to look at the "Odes" yet as our paper was late this morning. I do think the "Odes to Obama" title is a bit corny, though.
People: We have one day every four years in this country that celebrates a peaceful transition of power between administrations. It's about as unified and feel-good as it gets. Can't you wait ONE DAY before sniping, harping, gossiping, kvetching and in general behaving like whiny, sore losers? Have some class.
Isabell, I for one thought your Odes to Obama were pithy!
Of course, I guess you weren't referring to me in your follow-up note, since my enlightenment is all of the immanent sort. : )
P.S. FYI Mike D., that's from John M. Ford, The Final Reflection
"Odes to Obama" I did not read the poems. But the fact that the Associated Press had solicited them for the inauguration, borders the unbelievable. This was the swearing in of the 44th president of the United States of America; the third (I believe)inauguration in the 21 st century, and not a medieval song fest contest like in the (opera) Die Meistersinger, or a pan-Hellenic gathering of poets in ancient Corinth. It's astounding that president Obama is yielding to the circus of it all.
I am old enough to remember the 33rd president Harry S. Truman. No way would he have looked for Odes to Truman. And historically, I cannot perceive "Odes to Lincoln" or "Odes to Washington". Am I picking on something minor; ufairly? NO and NO! We are faced with world politics. Are we going to send the Secretary of State abroad handing out copies of Odes to Obama; published by the Associated Press; copyright 2009?
DW "Odes to Obama" put together and distributed by the Associated Press, is that having some class?
I liked the speech as given and I liked it even better on re-read. I thought it struck the right tone between tough realism and inspiring idealism. I'm not sure it was Obama's most memorable speech (I'd give that award to his speech on race in America) but the excitement of this historic moment will make it so. There were several quotable passages, but I especially liked this one:
"Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends - hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old. These things are true."
Jackie, he wrote this whole speech himself. For this occasion he wanted to. He does quite a bit of the writing of his speeches actually. He has writers but he's very much hands on.
I thought the speech was good but not his best. He said what he needed to say but I kept looking for that famous sound bite that lives on down through the ages. It didn't jump out but maybe if I go back and read it. Oh well, it was emotional, and I felt proud of us as a country when I saw the reactions of people from around the world. Other countries seem very excited, and hoping for a new America.
By the way, it's nice to see some new faces in here.
Shirley, don't forget clarinetist Anthony McGill. Funny thing, this morning I was thinking they should have had John Williams compose some sort of fanfare or music theme like he did for the '84 Olympics in Los Angeles. I'm a big fan of John Williams so imagine my surprise when I found out they played Air and Simple Gifts written by John Williams for this event.
DW,
I think we are asking too much if anyone would expect a positive response from the far right.
Partisanship before Country, right? :(
Rich and DW,
Doesn't it remind you of all the Liberal/Democrat whining and sniping from day 1 back in 2000 that "Bush stole the election"???? Its funny how you quickly forget, provided it suits your cause.
Bill...I don't remember all the media slobbering I and don't seem to recall "Duh Bee" printing any poems for President Bush.With President Obama The media picked him, promoted him and elected him so their masturbatory response and that of his cult followers was expected and understandable.Now it's time for them to take their hands out of their pants and face the reality of their actions...the fantasy is over.
I assume you were there to witness him writing his own speech. Perhaps you held the paper. If he did good for him but all the hoopla is just crazy because there are other blacks that have made a definate mark in history and they are all african American not just half. Will we have a million mariachis when the first hispanic President is elected. I doubt it. Again I hope he can turn this country around and keep us safe and I will wait to see. He is still our commander in chief and I will respect that.
Bill, there are no similar circumstances today. No disputed election. No court-interrupted recounts. Obama won both the popular vote and the Electoral College handily. So is this just "payback" for you?
If he did good for him but all the hoopla is just crazy because there are other blacks that have made a definate mark in history and they are all african American not just half.
Why do some people seem to have such a problem with the fact that Obama is biracial? Is he less of a black man to you because his mother is white?
And yes, for your information, it is a big deal that we elected our first African American president, given this country's history of oppression against that race of people.
Brian, you want poems for GWB? Why not solicit your own? I'll offer the following for starters:
We bid our farewells to President Bush,
Who left the White House with no need for a push,
After two wars, a recession,
And his vacation-obsession,
His approval ratings went down with a "whoosh."
I would have no problem if the President were polka dotted, but America is not ready for color blindness yet. And pushing from either direction may produce reactionary results. I have learned over the 57 years living here; Americans have something good going, and then spoil it with overkill. The USA must reach from the Hudson Bay to the Strait of Magelan (Manifest Destiny.) Obviously, the world did not say...Ok take it. hahaha!
I am sure that not many of the beehive bloggers read "Democracy in America" a literary classic by Alexis de Tocqueville (1835). For the benefit of the BLOG, I am posting this brief excerpt:
"...No writer, no matter how famous, can escape from this obligation to sprinkle incense over his fellow citizens. Hence the majority lives in a state of perpetual self-admiration; only strangers or experience may be able to bring certain truth to the Americans' attention."
Not given to be delusional, I know that I am not one not one of those strangers who can bring any kind of truth to this mega Narcissus. My ability to convey anything "...went down with a swoosh " thank to bloggers like Brian Murray, redpeach et. al.. I would not attempt, even dream of censorship. But nor do I feel comfortable setting myself up. So "...down with a swoosh" on the slippery slope of my opinions which seem to earn me (the immigrant) invitations to leave the country of people who are with their valid American birth certificates are going to lead the world back to good morals and prosperity.
And to the anti-immigrant bloggers. I am here because I married an American serviceman; and he had to return to the ZI (zone of interior). But by Special Act of Congress, I could have entered the US as a non-quota immigrant at any time due to my participation in the Resistance during WW II. What did you (my detractors out there) contribute to rid the world of evil, while I was risking my young and pretty neck?
May God bless and help the man who took on the most difficult and thankless task to be president. To me he is not black, he is not white he is simply AMERICAN. And it seems that some people have a problem with THAT and keep playing the race card.
Mike(D)...Pretty good. How long have you been sitting on that one.You prove my belief that you could of swung a dead cat and hit someone who could have done better and made more sense than the incoherent,public radio rant styled utterings by the featured poet "Elizabeth" at "The Immaculate Ascension" on Tuesday.All it needed was a little Nicaraguan ethnic music in the backgound and you would have thought you were listening to "NPR Weekend".
While everybody seems to lay blame all on Bush he had help or the lack of help from the Senate to be able to accomplish many things he needed and wanted to do. I refuse to place blame on any one individual as it vwas a host of them that brought our country down just like here in California.
Jackie, why would you be so rude when I was just trying to help? You didn't think he writes his own speeches and the word I got on a couple of different reports was that he did write this one and that's not uncommon.
Now, since my curiosity went up I looked further and it turns out there's other reports to the contrary. Apparently his ace writer, 27 year old Jon Favreau, helped quite a bit on this one.
This is part of the article (Helping To Write History) by the Washington Post about Obama and Favreau:
Obama sometimes jokes that Favreau is not so much a speech writer as a mind reader. He carries Obama's 1995 autobiography, "Dreams From My Father," with him almost everywhere and has memorized most of his famous keynote speech from the 2004 Democratic National Convention. He has mastered Obama's writing style -- short, elegant sentences -- and internalized his boss's tendency toward reflection and ideological balance.
Favreau's job is "to be like a baseball umpire," one co-worker said, and perform his task so deftly that nobody notices him. He listens to Obama tell stories in his office and spins them into developed metaphors, rich in historical context. When Obama delivers a speech on the road, Favreau studies the recording and notes the points at which Obama departs from the text so he can refine the riffs and incorporate them next time.
In four years together, Obama and Favreau have perfected their writing process. Before most speeches, Obama meets with Favreau for an hour to explain what he wants to say. Favreau types notes on his laptop and takes a crack at the first draft. Obama edits and rewrites portions himself -- he is the better writer, Favreau insists -- and they usually work through final revisions together. If Favreau looks stressed, Obama sometimes reassures him: "Don't worry. I'm a writer, too, and I know that sometimes the muse hits you and sometimes it doesn't. We'll figure it out together."
Now we know.
Interesting info, Scot. That's what good speech writers do - they write in the speaking style of the person who will be giving the speech. It probably helps that Obama is a good writer as well. I found both of his books to be very readable. The only downside of his election for me is that we won't be seeing any more books from him for awhile.
Scot I apologize if I came off rude to you but I was just reacting to the rudeness presented to me about everything I write. It is just an opinion blog and everyone has there own. Again sorry this blog brings out the negativity in me and I a,m usually a positive person.
Mike, it's a pretty interesting article all the way through.
You can find the whole article here.
Jackie, thanks, it's ok. It's very easy to feel attacked at every turn around here. Especially because there are some who thrive on doing it. I have to hand it to you though...at least you usually try and keep an open mind on many things.
I think I could have liked it better without the 115 million tax payer money for security. But considering the whence of the tidings, I have considered that it might not be true. I wonder for how many uninsured children that money could have bought medical care to restore health? For how many a roof over the head, living in the parent's automobile and so forth. I am not a Bible thumping Christian, but today's disparity rich vs. poor has attained the sinful. Just 220 years ago it began to create enough anger to produce a nasty uprising in France, without the help of Islamic terrorists....