Originally published on the CGS blog on January 20, 2009.
Today I had the privilege of attending President Obama’s inauguration. It’s difficult to express the emotions attached to this historic event. But as I stood with my family in the huge crowd (1.8 million) who came to witness this event, I felt a mixture of pride, hope, anticipation and optimism about what we can accomplish together.
We stood together – cold, packed in – with Americans from every state and of every race and ethnicity. We had camped out in CGS’s office, woke up early, and hiked to join a slow moving and cramped line to get in. We had “good” tickets in the Purple zone, on the Capitol grounds (picture on right). We couldn’t really see, the sound was only ok, but we were there. And that’s how those around us seem to feel too. The details didn’t manner – we were there at a moment when the course of our nation – of our world – was being defined. We were there at the end of the era where a person could be judged by the color of their skin. And we were there at the end of a nightmare when the United States acted as if it was above the law, exceptional, imperial, and dead wrong.
I was impressed by the amount of President Obama’s speech that focused on the world. These are good and strong words for those who understand that that we cannot succeed, nor can there be peace, unless our nation understands that we must lead by example and cooperate with other nations to benefit all. It’s a breath of fresh air that we now have a leader who believes this too. Here are some of the quotes from Obama’s inaugural address that I felt were most important:
“As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. 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 that we are ready to lead once more.”
“our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint. We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort – even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. ΓǪ With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet.”
“To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society’s ills on the West – know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. 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. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world’s resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.”
With Obama now at the helm our task, as global citizens, is to supply the energy to help make these changes happen. We must be the voice that keeps our nation looking outwards, that urges it to link arms with others, and to build a world based on the principles of democracy, human rights, and justice that we hold dear.
I look forward to working with you and with the Obama administration to overcome the challenges of our day and to make the dreams of our parents, grandparents and those who came before us a reality.
