Sounds Like It's Time to Punch In

// Truly, it's a wonderful day for our country. Seeing Barack Obama become the our President is an image that personifies good words - words like hope and opportunity and America - in a very dramatic fashion. His is a story that has the potential to serve as an inspiration to people from any walk of life. And it's not because he's black. And it's not because we're finally rid of President Bush. And it's not because it's trendy to hate on Republicans now. And it's definitely not because we'll finally get to see what kind of puppy he'll get his daughters. There's nothing superficial about what makes this day so special. The election of Barack Obama is the best proof yet that the United States's reputation of a "land of opportunity" still rings true. His beginnings were humbler than most. He made his fair share of mistakes along the way, but he worked and worked and worked - hard - to achieve the goals he had set for himself. For a nation who can best be described wholly as "weary", to see a man achieve such a colossal triumph and truly believe he has good in his heart is very uplifting. There's a recognition that occurs; people realize it easier if they see the fruits of another man's labor, especially when the fruit is becoming President. There's a feeling of elation when we're reminded of the fact that working hard - while sometimes its own reward - can help you see even your loftiest goals come to fruition. Let's dissect this incredible day.

// The speech. Before today, I was beginning to think people were expecting too much. It reminded of this: if you ever ask someone over 40 about Saturday Night Live, a very likely response is something along the lines of, "Nothing was as good as those early ones with Belushi and Akroyd and Gilda Radner and Eddie Murphy and Chevy Chase." I respectfully disagree. My hypothesis on this is that the only parts of those old SNLs we see replayed anymore are the gems. We see Belushi's Samurai character and the knock-knock shark at Weekend Update and subsequently those SNLs are remembered as classics. Of course, right? All we're ever seeing is the skits they struck gold with! However, if you've ever watched an entire episode of an old SNL, I think you'll find what I did: the skit batting average was very similar to what it is now. A lot of so-sos, a couple yuk-yuks, and every so often they hit a grand slam. There seemed to be a correlation like that with regard to today's speech as well. I think there was this (unfair) expectation that every line of Obama's speech was going to be on par with "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself" or "ask not what your country can do for you...". While it wasn't an immediate "HOLY CRAP DID YOU HEAR THAT!!" kind of speech, it was a very well-written (and extremely well-delivered, obv) speech and I think that over time it will be favorably compared to other notable inaugural addresses. Some parts I rather enjoyed:

Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America — they will be met.

This might be the early favorite for the line that will be remembered the most (and played along those ubiquitous lines I said earlier). Also, it's the early front runner for the quote most often mangled by high school seniors in their class 0f 2132 yearbook.

Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.

The overall message of the entire speech, the whole "let's go to work" thing played really well. Rightfully so. That's maybe the best aspect of his Presidential persona thus far. From the second he planned his victory address, he's never wavered from his "the work is just beginning" theme. I found that the more I replayed it, the more I thought about that Pistons "going to work" jingle they play during ticket ads.

We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories.

Energy, in my mind, is the most pressing issue we face. I think success on that front could act almost like a panacea for our various other problems. I really hope he can succeed in getting progressive energy reform enacted soon. There needs - needs - to be laws that will force our country into more widespread use of renewable energy and ween our dependency on not just foreign oil but all fossil fuels. I really believe the growing scarcity of fossil fuels could be the make-or-break issue of America.

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.

I have a plethora of thoughts on our foreign policy; way too many to include in a blurb. I just wanted to point out that his whole demeanor during his glossing over of defense was very reassuring. He might not be quite the hard-liner that G.W. was, but he's not a pushover. I think his assurances that are country will be safe are genuine.

What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility — a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

This might be the money shot; the quote that goes on the marble block holding up the statue if our great-great-great-grandchildren decide Obama merits a monument on the mall. It's easy to be cynical, especially when our perception of our country is so dire, but Barack Obama is inspiring. It really is that simple. Our recent history has made it easy to be dubious and harbor a mistrust of all things government. Again, it's easy to be cynical. But there is a great feeling in being genuinely excited about the direction Obama can give us.

If you've ever seen him speak, and I doubt I know anyone who hasn't, you know that words on a screen don't do Barack Obama justice. His eloquence and charisma make his speeches seem like more than words from a politician. He's so moving. If you didn't see it, I urge you to watch the speech here. It really is worth the time, especially the anecdotal parting shot. OK, moving on from speech highlights...

// Since he bested Hillary Clinton over the course of the Democratic primaries, the hype surrounding President Obama (henceforth referred to as "Obama" or simply "Barry", I just wanted to type "President Obama" one time for my own amends) has been almost unequaled by anything I can recall. It sounds ridiculous to compare the two people, and perhaps it is a commentary on how exasperating our country can get, but the sheer mass of the exposure Obama has received in the last year is the most I can recall since late-90s early-00s Britney Spears. I don't think I've gone a single day since last February without hearing an actual discussion about the man, much less seeing his family's vacation photos grace the cover of US Weekly. It would seem as though now, with him finally being inaugurated, the hype will gradually subside and he'll slowly become something we're accustomed to. But does that prediction hold water? I'm not so sure.

When I say his hype was unparalleled, I mean exactly that. My comparison to last decade's Britney is a serious one, at least as far as media coverage is concerned. It's arguable that Barack's celebrity has surpassed even hers. In an historical sense, he might be the most talked about person in our country's (and perhaps even the world's) history. If you took his celebrity and matched it up with The Beatles, wouldn't you guess Barack Obama is a bigger story? Even when taking into account the relatively gargantuan size of the present media compared to that of the '60s, doesn't Obama still register as a bigger hype machine? I'm leaning towards yes.

The question, then, is what now? He had a strong mandate, no doubt. The message sent in early November was unmistakable: we wanted Barack Obama to be President. We got it. Message received. No Emperor Palpatine-esque power grab from the Neo-Cons. So when does the work begin and, the bigger question, when will average Americans have their trust rewarded? When will the Gallup polls reveal that yes, average Americans think we've "turned it around"? When comes Obama's CHANGE? There's no black-and-white answer to that one. I think the country made a good decision electing Obama. I think he's beyond capable and - more importantly - I believe he has a good, selfless heart. It worries me a bit, however, that the country will be impatient with him. I don't know if we can make another good decision and be patient. I don't know if the people - not a person, but the people - have the foresight to really heed Obama's words when he says our work is just beginning. The pressure on this man is so great - so massive - and in his line of work there's rarely any change for the good that happens overnight. A big question yet to be answered is how will Obama handle it if the honeymoon ends? I for one believe he's that good; his skill set and abilities as a leader will enable him to create real results in (relatively, remember) quick fashion. But is it possible that it all falls the other way? Will he grow weary of the pressures of the office? Grow tired from the constant scrutiny and exposure? Become jaded towards our system and abandon his altruistic goals? Is it possible?

// Truly, it's a wonderful day for our country. This could be the start of a course of action that will extend our country's prosperity until long after we're all dead and gone. It used to be easy to be cynical, but no more. Barack Obama has quelled the growth of our disillusionment. Barack Obama made it easy to be an optimist again.