One of the beautiful things about this country, imho, is that it is made up of a tapestry of beliefs and individuals who embody those beliefs.  Yesterday's inauguration of President Barack Obama amply demonstrated that diversity as I watched video of the reviewing stands, of former Presidents, of members of Congress, of elderly and young, of every color and religion.

I had anticipated that there would be many moving moments for me in the ceremony.  And while I loved the speech, enjoyed the pomp and circumstance, there were really two moments that got to me the most.

The first was when the former Presidents and First Ladies were making their way to their seats and instead of the orderly progression that had clearly been envisioned by the organizers of the inauguration, we ended up with a gaggle (a pod? a herd?) of ex-Presidents.  They greeted each other (for the most part...Jimmy Carter still being odd man out for some reason), formed a tight little knot of energy and finally, much to the relief of the woman in the red coat, dispersed again to find their seats.

I found it profoundly moving that the men (and women) who had served this country, our country, from vastly differing viewpoints utilizing widely varying policies, could come together cordially and in mutual respect for the cost of leadership.

In terms of Obama's actual address, there was one moment...and one moment only...where I burst into tears.  This is not to say that there weren't other topics, sentences, dreams and hopes that touched me in his speech.  But it is the thing I have longed for the most, written about the most frequently during the Bush era, and hope most fervently proves to be true.

"We reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals."

In that one sentence, President Obama summarized the hope that I have had, the arguments I've made from my tiny little pulpit in this tiny corner of the world--that we can, as Americans, not be driven to the lowest common denominator by our fears and our vulnerabilities...but that we may rise despite them to the high calling of those who founded our nation, those who fought for and fight for our freedom, and those who have braved so many deprivations and hardships because they believed it was possible to create a "more perfect union."

Amen and Amen.

 


Comments

Mom # 1

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:36:04

Well said.

 

Laura

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 17:24:24

Aw, shucks.

<grin>

 

Erik

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 19:33:45

Right on, sister. Love that sentance too. I wish the man all the energy in the galaxy as he sets out on this quest. We will be a difficult posse to ride herd on, without question...

I think a collection of ex-Presidents is called a Pontificate... :) Or maybe a Phalanx? How about a Clutch?

Erik

 

Greg Santilli

Sun, 25 Jan 2009 14:05:38

Hi Laura -

Thanks so much for updating your blog, and for your insightful comments. The Santilli's are also big Obama fans, incredibly hopeful for his presidency, and happy that we share your Obama admiration!

You cited the one line in his speech that did it for you. I don't think anything in his speech did it for me as much as the quotation below in the LA times article that you linked to your blog (justification for his move to hold salaries constant for those highly paid in his adminstration):

"Speaking to his senior staff, Obama said, "However long we are keepers of the public trust, we should never forget that we are here as public servants, and public service is a privilege. It's not about advantaging yourself. It's not about advancing your friends or your corporate clients. It's not about advancing an ideological agenda or the special interests of any organization. Public service is, simply and absolutely, about advancing the interests of Americans.""

Okay, that is probably one of the most awesome things I have ever read, and thanks so much for linking this article to your blog (we had not read it). The last sentence is the simple answer to any question or challenge that may present itself to any public servant, or to anyone in general since we are all called on to be public servants. It's also making me think fondly of all the time that I had the "privilege" of serving on the board of directors of the Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry under your awesome and inspirational leadership!

I have taken that quote and printed it in large font and asked Ann (my wife who works for LADWP as a public servant) to tack it up onto her wall at work as those words hold the key to meeting any challenge that may come before her and her peers!

Thanks and God Bless!

Your friend, Greg

 

Laura

Sun, 25 Jan 2009 16:42:52

Hi Greg,

Thanks for checking in here! Glad the link led you to that quote because I, too, think it's one of the more clarifying definitions of public service that I have read.

In that spirit, we began at the Pantry to rethink the idea of being in competition with other pantries and think about the larger mission of feeding hungry people. Amazing how the step back to look at the larger picture, the bigger calling yeilds such powerful results.

I, for one, was humbly grateful for all you did at the Pantry. Those long hours were not noticed only by Ann and your family.

Blessings back at you my friend.

 



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