Like millions of other Americans, I watched the Inauguration on tv yesterday and tried to catch a glimpse of the new First Lady's ball gown on the re-runs today. She looked beautiful! Absolutely gorgeous!
I was impressed by the President's speech yesterday. There were no campaign promises, no mentioning of what he will do during his term, not a single word about how everything will be better now that Change Is Here. That by itself impressed me.
He went on to speak about the Founding Fathers and what this country is about. He spoke about the American Spirit and how it cannot be broken, not by a depressive economy and not by terrorist threats.
"We will not be defeated."
When I arrived in the US in 1995, I began to explore and experience what America is about with a newcomer's eyes. Almost like the pilgrims but without the hardship. The first thing I came to know, the first thing that struck me with awe was the American Spirit. The way Americans display their flags with love and pride, being careful to not ever let it touch the ground and disposing of it in a most respectful way once it is worn out. I'm not even touching Independence Day.
Witnessing America's love affair with its history, its spirit, itself -I couldn't help but falling in love with it as well - hook, line and sinker. I couldn't help but wanting to be part of this........wonderful thing called America.
Lately, especially during the last year I sometimes wondered where the American spirit had gone. Everyone is tired of the war, nothing but negative news......about America. I caught myself wondering if my family wouldn't be better off if we lived in Germany even though the news from across the big pond aren't much better than here. I wondered what it would take for America to put itself back together again and do what it does best - be the greatest country in the world.
Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.
...and there it was........once again - the American Spirit.
It's a great feeling of renewal, isn't it? We've been needing this change!
We must do everything ourselves, but a great orator can inspire us to greatness. He has the speaking abilities to inspire the nation to greatness, it is us that must fix things and we all need that little poke.
He is a great orator. He's totally messed up Illinois and Chicago is almost bankrupt as a result. I'm hopeful that he surrounds himself with smarter people than he has done w/in the State of Illinois. Hope is great and his oratory skills have been having a good affect on most all of of the nation. Let's hope and see if he can deliver. I am earnestly praying for him. Let's wait and see.
I've moticed that more and more the message is that we all need to contribute, we all need to make sacrifices, we all need to work together. Hopefully this awakening of the American spirit will lead to a massive amount of action in thousands of neighborhoods.
This post is very well written. I'm also glad that he didn't make any grand promises.
This is a beautiful Post! I agree completly, I took the day off yesterday to watch all the festivities. I was moved & proud that our country has come this far. We may not all agree but it was a very peaceful transfer of power. I wish I was as good at words as you are!
I am so proud of you Andrea. This spirit is why we have made it this far and will continue to prosper. This is why your glass is always half full and not half empty. This spririt is why we are still Realtors(R). If I sometimes forget to tell you or we are too busy for each other, remember that I always love you. I am proud to be your husband. I don't think that we will just sit back and wait and see, I think this is going to be a great four years. We've picked ourselves up, dusted ourselves off, and we are beginning again, because you've known all along that we can.
Very well written post and I could not agree with you any more. I have moved here in 1998 form Europe and I know exactly what you mean. Nice post