Tuesday, January 20, 2009

My Thoughts On The Inauguration of Our 44th President

Today, our nation celebrated, as we do every four years, the Inauguration of a new Commander In Chief. It is a time honored tradition, and each incoming President is due his day of celebration, as are ALL Americans. 

We homeschool our daughter, and as part of our history lesson today I allowed her to watch the Inauguration of our 44th President, as I explained the historical nature of the event itself, and the historical significance of this particular Inauguration. Let me be clear: I do recognize that, for black Americans, this was an important day in their history as a people, as well as in the history of our great nation. It was disheartening, however, to have to explain to my ten year old why, first, President George W. Bush was openly mocked and belittled, not only in some remarks that were made at the Inauguration, but by commentators on several of the various major networks. Secondly, it was even more disheartening to have to explain to my ten year old why, when her father and I have always taught her that it matters not what the color of your skin is, only the content of your character as a person, the "preacher" at the end of the main event proceeded to make racist comments in a prayer about white people...insinuating that we are the ones who need to make it right. So, at a time when I truly believed this country had moved past racism, at a time when as many white people as black cast their votes to put this man of mixed race into the oval office....it is the black man who continues the racism. Today was proof...a "color free" society is not what they wish to have. That became abundantly clear as I watched, and it saddens me deeply. 

I tuned in today truly looking for something on which I could comment positively. The left lectures us that we should suddenly find unity, when all they have done (except for a brief period of time after 9/11) is work to destroy the unity of our country for the last eight years. I felt that since today was a day for our new President to celebrate, I would try-in the spirit of celebration-to find something positive to say. I thought the Obama ladies looked quite lovely. The prayer by Rick Warren was absolutely fantastic, and although I've heard much better renditions of "My Country Tis Of Thee", I thought Aretha Franklin did a good job. I was impressed that Joe Biden took his oath like an old pro, and was surprised when Obama had a difficult time, although I can't imagine how nervous one would be in his position, so it was completely understandable. I thought Obama's speech had moments that sounded great, but the speech overall contradicted itself as, on one hand, he talked about how the people of America are what makes America great and how we will be the ones to reach within ourselves and find what we need to get through the hard times that lay ahead, and yet on the other hand, he spoke at length of what Government will do to solve our problems. As a whole, it was to me a very disappointing speech, although, as someone put it yesterday, he could have read a paragraph from the back of a cereal box and it wouldn't have mattered to the crowd. I would have walked away from the event with mixed feelings, truly liked parts of it and others, not so much....until Rev. Joseph Lowry got up to give the benediction. I was truly enjoying his prayer, and then he just had to throw the racism in there! What is it about these pastors who preach black liberation theology, and having to gain attention by seeing how much controversy they can stir up? If I were Barack Obama, I would begin to think that maybe they didn't have my best interest at heart, since seemingly every time one of them opens his mouth, out of it spews hatred of the white man. 

So, overall, after watching an inauguration that I truly decided to watch to find something good, I come away realizing that liberal democrats want no part of unity. I see how our current President is treated by those with little or no class, both from the democratic party and in the mainstream media, and I realize that our world has become a very different place, and today empowered those on the left who have so much hatred toward what is right and good and true. 

I can promise this: I will pray for this President, as I have every President for most of my life, every day of his term. Do I wish him success? Not in the policies he promises to implement, no. To do so would be to turn my back on my own principles. I hope that, once he begins his term as Commander In Chief, he will begin to view the world much as President Bush viewed it for the last eight years--through the eyes of one who wishes to protect this nation at all costs. I hope that once he begins to see through the eyes of those who've come before him, he will soon realize that many of the things he promises to do will do more harm than good to this nation, and that it will rock him to his core.  I will continue to look for things that I can support in this administration, and where I disagree, I will voice it. You see,  as I explained in tears this morning to my daughter, that's the beauty of freedom. We live in a nation who embraces people from every walk of life, every nation, every creed...and we have the freedom to vote, and every four years, we get a do-over if we don't like how things turned out this time around! Meanwhile, we need to do some soul searching. We need to educate ourselves on those principles in which we believe, study what works, and what doesn't work. We need to learn to see for ourselves, and in the end, no matter who our President is, we are better for it. 

In closing, I'd like to say that one of the most moving parts of the day for me was when President Bush and Laura departed aboard Marine One. I cannot imagine what it must have been like to walk in their shoes for these last eight years, seven of them in particular after 9/11. I can only imagine that President Bush must have felt the weight of the world on his shoulders from that moment on, and while I have not always agreed with every domestic policy he brought to the table, I have ALWAYS felt that he did everything within his power to make sure my family and your family were able to lay our heads down to sleep in safety each night. I can't imagine what it must have been like for the Bush daughters to hear so many horrible things said about their parents, day in and day out, for so many years. Yet, through it all, President Bush has served with honor and integrity, with dignity, with his faith as his guide, and Laura was one of the most gracious, honorable, and classy First Ladies this nation has ever known. I admire that, and I know without a doubt that one day, when the classified materials are de-classified, when the truth is really known, President Bush will go down in history as one of the greatest Presidents this nation has ever known. 


17 comments:

Martha said...

I didn't watch tv today. We homeschool our girls and I would rather them not know much about the new president, I'm afraid the more they know they more they'll judge, like me. It was very disappointing to hear that "reverend" draw a clear line dividing the white and black people...it should NOT be about skin color!!!

S.D. said...

Excellent post!!!

Comradio said...

Good post Tami. I must admit there were a few moments when we would be in disagreement, but all in all, I respect your post and the underlying reasoning behind it.

I do think Bush tried his best to do what he thought was right. I think he fell into bad advice. He wanted to do what was right and what kept us safe, but the options, opinions, and ideas expressed around him and lobbied to him were not always sound.

I feel regretful for all the negative things that have been directed at Bush. Seeing it against Obama now really puts it into light. But I truly believe, in all my study of history, that this is one of those moments where we can push the world forward. One of those generational defining times.

My fear is that we're already too far apart. The gap has grown so large that you look at people like me as crazy, and vice versa sometimes. Both are true. But that's what makes this moment an opportunity.

If you took offense at something Obama said today as an attack, haven't you accussed the other side of the very same things? Is it not possible he intended that message for them too?

I have always been staunchly anti-dem and anti-repub. Is it not possible that he is actually NOT a part of the ole' democrat way that people try to associate him with?

Think on it. I respect that you said these things. I know I've lobbied some pretty harsh criticisms of you and those like you. But I feel until now, you've come at this with teeth bared and Obama does not deserve that, yet.

I ask you to try to find the good intention contained in this response and take it as an honest attempt at back and forth, just as you tried to find something positive today. Its there, I promise.

We've just built this wall so high and so strong....

Mel said...

Tami I have much to say about the inauguration and I too used it as part of our history lesson today and explained its historical significance to my boys. You did an excellent summary.

Lauren said...

VERY, VERY, well said Tami :)

Anonymous said...

I just wanted to take a moment to comment on your blog. I enjoyed reading your posts tonight on Twitter during the SGPBall. I am firm conservative and hope that things like the SGPBall will initiate another conservative revolution in line with the "Contract with America" and Reagan Revolution.

I would like to form or join a conservative blogging network to help the movement of these ideas. I am going to be seeking those over the coming weeks.

I look forward to being connected with you and seeing your tweets.

Jeremy
Refocusing Technology Blog
Prinicples over Party Political Blog
Follow Me on Twitter

Tami said...

welcome jlattimore!

would love to hear more. what an opportunity we have in front of us!

Mary said...

Tami, as always, well written. I'm going to direct my few readers to your post. I missed the SGP Twitter Ball because I fell asleep with the boys. How was it?

Katie said...

I think it is important to note that Roberts, not Obama made the mistake during the oath. Although, if Obama had a mistake, it would certainly be understandable with the given circumstances. As for Rev. Lowrey's benediction...I think it is important to take it all in context. The referenced song is from the civil rights movement when oppression at the hands of "the white man" was very real. The song refers specifically to Jim Crowe laws and black individuals being turned away from voting. To reference the song at Obama's inauguration is not an attack on white citizens so much as it illustrates how far we have all come. White citizens have gone from preventing blacks from entering the polls to welcoming them into the White House. While I fully understand how it could have been perceived differently...I fully believe that it was stated to show the progress all people (black, white, red, and brown) have made from the civil rights movement to this historic day.

third rock from the sun said...

As always, the thoughts on your posts are right on.

The liberal media are focusing on the new scene in Washington. They predict there will be more social Washington parties because the Bush's didn't have the social parties(but don't those extravagant parties cost millions?) But wait, then another commentator mentioned that the BO's are family oriented and may also want to eat pizza in the White House with their girl's and invited friends. At any rate, people are lining up to be invited to the Washington potlucks at our expense. Maybe the invited guests will bring a covered dish and keep the costs down.

I am sure the BO family could pick their nose and eat it, and the liberal media will spin it to look like something we all should do in order to cut down on Kleenex and save trees.

Just like the commentator on TV blamed BO messing up when he took oath. If you can believe it, it is being spun as going down in the history books that Roberts chose not to read the oath to BO, and therefore, messed up and caused BO to flub his swearing in. To me, it was just status quo for him because he always flubs up if he isn't looking at a telepromter.

It's becoming a joke. The liberal media is making BO untouchable. But from the quote of Isaac Newton: "For every action, there is an equal or opposite reaction." What will the reaction of a cocky president, be? You can't help but be cocky if you aren't accountable to anyone. What will the reaction (according to Isaac Newton) be?

As for the prayer at the end..if the Blacks really wanted to move on, they would. Some have. They have joined society and gotten over Black history. But then there those who will never let it die, and probably shouldn't. Because if they did, they wouldn't have an excuse to fail.

Tami said...

katelyn

actually, the mistake on the oath is up for debate and it depends on who you listen to as to what opinion is given. I saw it and Obama rushed into the repetition before Roberts could get the entire phrase out...Roberts then had to stop, and it was then that he mispoke.

As for the "civil rights" song that the "Reverend" quoted, I don't care where it came from although I already knew that. His meaning was abundantly, crystal clear. These folks will not let go of the victim mentology, it has served them quite well all these years, even during a time NOW when they are very much NOT the victims any longer. They now have a half black man in the white house, and yet it is not enough. I am waiting for them to begin trying to rename the white house....that's next, wanna bet?
We have been accused of being racist here simply for disagreeing with Obama and his policies. We have been accused of being racist because we posted pictures of a black man. Well, I think now it's time to start calling it like we see it, and so I am.

Oh, and where are all those people from October who screamed racism and whatever else when we simply posted Obama's middle name? We were mean, we were cruel, we were making it up....it wasn't his real name....DUH. Yes, it is. And he said it yesterday. Was that why there was such a stunned silence during parts of the speech?

third rock from the sun said...

ROBERTS: I, Barack Hussein Obama...
OBAMA: I, Barack...
ROBERTS: ... do solemnly swear...
OBAMA: I, Barack Hussein Obama, do solemnly swear...
ROBERTS: ... that I will execute the office of president to the United States faithfully...
OBAMA: ... that I will execute...
ROBERTS: ... faithfully the office of president of the United States...
OBAMA: ... the office of president of the United States faithfully...

I think BO was taken back when Roberts used his middle name. BO paused before saying his own middle name. At the Ball that followed, it is noted that he was announced as Barack H. Obama.

It is also interesting to note that as junior senator, BO voted against Roberts to the Supreme Court.

If Roberts was thrown off by BO jumping the gun and speaking over him, Roberts repeated it correctly, but BO didn't swear in on the corrected oath. There’s a law professor out there who says Obama should take the oath over again just to be sure.

Boston University’s Jack Beermann told Carolyn Lochhead at the San Francisco Chronicle that although it is unlikely to be challenged in court, just to play it safe perhaps President Obama should do it again.

“It would take him 30 seconds, he can do it in private, it’s not a big deal, and he ought to do it just to be safe,” Berman said. “It’s an open question whether he’s president until he takes the proper oath.”

Just when you thought the clamor over his birth certificate was over….


But it all boils down to BO being excused from the flub because he is human. However, Sarah Palin was never given that luxury. One slip and the dogs were called in to rip her apart. So, you see, it is hard to let him off the hook because why should he be treated like a human who makes mistakes. Shouldn't that kind of leniency be extended to Sarah? Can you kinda see where the double standards are?

For those of you that say "Let move on" Well, I say the same to you about Sarah and what she reads or doesn't read, for Pete's sake!

Unknown said...

More important than "white will embrace what is right," what about that yellow stuff! "Yellow will be mellow"? What, is yellow too excitable right now? When did excitability become a bad thing?

Katie said...

Tami,

I appreciate your response to my post. I also appreciate that you approved it for posting, as I know that is something that you are by no means obligated to do.

Based on your response, I get the impression that you may view me as a member of the "looney left." By no means did I intend to imply that you didn't know where Reverend Lowery's song originates. Nor do I think that your opinion is unjustified. However, I believe that there are many groups of people who embrace their pasts. This is not a trait reserved exclusively for blacks.

Many religious groups will discuss the persecution they faced throughout history as a way of demonstrating just how far they've come.

Imagine if, in 2012, Sarah Palin is being sworn in as President of the United States. Would it be wrong under those circumstances for speakers to reference articles from the women's rights movement which imply that men are to blame for the oppression of females?

Perhaps you would say the exact same thing about such comments. Perhaps this would just be an example of the inability of women to move on from the oppression they once faced. Perhaps you would go so far as to classify such comments a sexism the same way you commented Lowry's comments as racism.

However, if you would not respond in the above manner. If, instead, you would see such a moment as something to be proud of, something which women across the United States could listen to and feel that they had helped to achieve what their female ancestors never could, well, then, maybe you can, at the very least understand, where black citizens were coming from yesterday...not racism or hatred towards white people, but pride for black people.

third rock from the sun said...

BREAKING NEWS

BO Retakes Oath at the White House the day after the Inauguration on Wednesday evening.

Tami said...

Katie,

I do see where you are coming from, but I guess that's the difference between liberals and conservative ideology. I don't know where you stand politically, perhaps you are somewhere in the middle...but as a conservative, I truly never saw Sarah Palin's entrance into the national political arena as a victory for women. I saw it as a victory for conservatism. Now, in her case, being a candidate for VP is great, but the only real advantage it gave her was being able to (when she was allowed by her handlers) talk about her conservative ideas and her life and getting acquainted with the American people. We know she was effective because the MSM hates her so much. If she were ineffective, they wouldn't still be talking about her.

Back to the point, though, I truly do not care if it is a man or a woman who holds the office of President. I care that the principles on which this country was founded, conservative principles, are adhered to. I truly can say with all sincerity I do not see things in color, nor do I see things in terms of male/female. Did I think it was cool that we had an incredible conservative that became part of the race? YEP. Did I think it was even cooler that she was a woman? Sure! But not for the same reasons that feminists do.
As for your comparison to religious groups citing persecution...with all due respect, I don't think that is a legitimate comparison. We have, in this country, come a long way since the days of slavery. I am sorry that people of color were treated as they were....history tells us, by the way, that their own people sold them into slavery, and that it is STILL happening today in many countries...it truly breaks my heart. ALL men were created EQUAL. All men were meant to be free, that is our God given right...so, I believe that we have very much moved past this in our country. We NOW have a BLACK, or at least half-black President! How wonderful is that for people of color??? However, you can't come that far, have that many people NOT of your race who voted you into office, and then greatly disrespect those who put you there!!! If it weren't for all those votes from people of many other races, he wouldn't have stood a chance! So, I was greatly insulted, and I thought it was incredibly rude and a show of ingratitude for them to so blatantly disrespect the whites of today who had NOTHING to do with what happened in the pasts of their forefathers.

Tami said...

Andrea, I'm with ya there. I was puzzled by that. The only "yellow" people I know are some of the hardest working humble people I know. I guess that makes them too excitable.