20 January 2009
Something New
I am thinking about the event that took place today, the inauguration. But really, not like any inauguration in our history. It is the image of those millions of people gathered to be part of (and this is how people stated it...not to watch but to be part of) this world changing miracle.
Up close, people were smiling and laughing. They were packed in like birthday candles in a little box. They were hugging and waving flags--yes, waving flags--and swaying together, sometimes chanting "O-BA-MA! O-BA-MA!" (I believe that we Americans are so accustomed to being cynical that we have limited expressions for joy and hope in the experience of something so moving. It sounded a little like a football game.) But the faces shown on camera were the give away to what was going on inside. Tears, hope, relief, and years of not believing that there was a chance of real change and then, the flood of release.Then the long camera shots of the people. You saw them. To what can we compare this?
And yet, although the people seem to get it, I'm not sure our legislature does. And this includes Democrats. I keep hearing that people have their own plans, and that they are not going to be a bunch of rubber stamps for Obama, etc.
I am beginning to conclude that we don't really know how to get behind a real leader. It seems clear that Obama is not asking anyone to be a rubber stamp. He has stated and acted upon his belief that he wants to hear from everyone. People who have been lucky enough to sit with him say that he actually listens. But then, and I believe this is the correct role for a leader, he makes a decision. At this point, I would love to see these people, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi included, go with him, support him. If it turns out that these directions taken are not working, then work with him to create new solutions.
I am one American that is sick and tired of the strutting and posturing and squabbling and divisiveness that has characterized our representatives in Washington. Come on, people. The sky is falling.
Up close, people were smiling and laughing. They were packed in like birthday candles in a little box. They were hugging and waving flags--yes, waving flags--and swaying together, sometimes chanting "O-BA-MA! O-BA-MA!" (I believe that we Americans are so accustomed to being cynical that we have limited expressions for joy and hope in the experience of something so moving. It sounded a little like a football game.) But the faces shown on camera were the give away to what was going on inside. Tears, hope, relief, and years of not believing that there was a chance of real change and then, the flood of release.Then the long camera shots of the people. You saw them. To what can we compare this?
And yet, although the people seem to get it, I'm not sure our legislature does. And this includes Democrats. I keep hearing that people have their own plans, and that they are not going to be a bunch of rubber stamps for Obama, etc.
I am beginning to conclude that we don't really know how to get behind a real leader. It seems clear that Obama is not asking anyone to be a rubber stamp. He has stated and acted upon his belief that he wants to hear from everyone. People who have been lucky enough to sit with him say that he actually listens. But then, and I believe this is the correct role for a leader, he makes a decision. At this point, I would love to see these people, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi included, go with him, support him. If it turns out that these directions taken are not working, then work with him to create new solutions.
I am one American that is sick and tired of the strutting and posturing and squabbling and divisiveness that has characterized our representatives in Washington. Come on, people. The sky is falling.
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