Obama’s oath – A great moment in history
Great moments in history come but rarely. They’re too often associated with tragedy and misfortune. 9/11. The Kennedy and Martin Luther King assassinations. Hiroshima.
Then there are the great moments, fewer in number, that invoke the best in the human spirit. They call anew on the spirit of optimism that lurks in all of us, but which the stresses and urgencies of daily survival often suppress.
The inauguration of Barack Obama as President of the United States is sure to be remembered as one of these rare occasions when history unites with hope, and offers the prospect of a new and better chapter in the story of mankind.
The pundits are parsing Obama’s inaugural speech, examining ins entrails for hidden meanings, or clues to where this man is likely to lead America and the world.
After watching the speech as it unfolded, listening to a later replay, and reading the text, a few thoughts stand out.
It was tough. It dealt forcefully with the failings of the recent past:
“Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age.”
It was prescient. It identifed the forgotten greatest need, which if not met will consign America to a second-place (or third-place) role in tomorrow’s world:
”We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology’s wonders to raise health care’s quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. “
It was open-hearted. But it delivered a clear and unmistakable message to the adversaries of the West:
“To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. 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.”
President Obama begins his days in the White House with the unprecedented support and affection. His election moves the tired prejudices of the past onto the back pages of history. As the Palestinian newspaper headlined its front page today: Good Luck!
