From the Archives

My Country, My President

Here we are. This is the day millions of us, around the world, have been waiting for for most of the last eight years. I’ve been glued to CNN, Huffington Post, and my local paper. Today, I read a column by Detroit Free Press columnist Mitch Albom, in which he asks “what are we so happy about?” Why does this change of power feel like one gigantic party? Tomorrow, we’ll still be at war. People will still be losing their jobs, and their homes. Children in Detroit and across the nation will still be going to bed hungry. The stock market and the Middle East can hardly be expected to start cooperating, just because we’ve elected this man with a funny name who promised change.

Is it the historical nature of Obama’s presidency? Sure. The magnitude of what has happened, my country electing a black man to the highest office (when a mere half-century or so ago, we still had a segregated South) is breathtaking. But it’s more than that.

Is it the whole notion of hope, and change, that Obama has promised us? That’s certainly part of it. I’m sure you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t realize that we need to make some radical, drastic changes in this country, from the way we manage our finances to the way we grow our food. Change is good, and necessary. Hope is important. Bill Clinton ran on hope, if you recall. I didn’t feel this overwhelming sense of optimism, even then.

No, it’s something more. Obama has said, time and time again, that our challenges can be met, that we can change our world, but that we must take an active part in that change. We can not sit back and wait for change to happen. We need to make it happen. “We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.”

How empowering is that sentiment, when for the last eight years our government has ignored us, ridiculed our protests, questioned our patriotism, and bled us dry so that special interests could line their pockets?

How inspiring is it, to realize that we do, in fact, have a government of, by, and for the people?

How amazing is it to feel that your voice is being heard, that you have a stake in your country, and that working together, we can accomplish anything?

That’s what this inauguration means to me. We the people are present in our government again. May we have the sense to never let our government shut us out again.

In that spirit, here is, for me, the most poignant moment from the “We Are One” inaugural concert. I get chills every time I watch this clip:

13 comments

13 comments to “My Country, My President”

Frances, January 20th, 2009 at 6:52 am:

Hi Colleen, well put. I don’t remember feeling like this ever before about the prospect of the change that will come, even if it is only just a feeling of change and no actual change. It is electric, but it is him personally, not just everything he represents, I believe. He is a gift, and gifted.
Frances

gittan, January 20th, 2009 at 7:21 am:

These word so have written, you’re so right about everything you say. The hole world thinks that this is a speciell day for us all. And all over the world, we need to make the change come true / gittan (from sweden)

joey, January 20th, 2009 at 7:36 am:

Heartwarming post, Colleen … enjoy this historic day.

Nancy Bond, January 20th, 2009 at 8:18 am:

It is, indeed, a day of joy!

jodi, January 20th, 2009 at 9:38 am:

I too get chills, watching that, Colleen. And I laugh and cry, and rejoice with you all today. Congratulations to our American neighbours on this historic, joyful day. We’re celebrating with you, proud and excited and hopeful.

Susy, January 20th, 2009 at 11:56 am:

I was full of hope for change, but as I’ve been watching the cabinet and sub-cabinet appointments I’ve been losing that feeling of hope. Also as I read through the new stimulus plant I feel like it’s politics as usual in Washington. I hope I am suprised, but I feel like in 4 years we’re all going to wonder what happened.

I hope we can all get involed and help make a difference. You have to remember that even though this is a happy day for you almost 50% of the country voted for the other guy, and they’re not full of hope today. It’s up to us, the citizens of this great country, to be able to come together to make this change happen.

Annie in Austin, January 20th, 2009 at 3:43 pm:

I just saw this clip at Ellis Hollow – you and Craig chose a good one!
All those problems are still there, but somehow we feel hopeful.

Happy Inauguration Day, Colleen!

Annie at the Transplantable Rose

Colleen Vanderlinden, January 20th, 2009 at 6:02 pm:

Frances—I have to agree with you—there is something about Obama himself that is special. And we definitely need someone like him now!

gittan–One of the things I’m looking forward to most is that we will stop being an international embarrassment

Joey–Thanks! You too!

Nancy–It truly is

Jodi–I’m sure our northern neighbors are happy. It must have been like living next door to raving lunatics these last eight years!

Susy–I haven’t been thrilled with all of his choices either, but I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt. He’s not going to be perfect. He will be a hell of a lot better than what we’ve had (And, while approx. 50% of the country didn’t vote for him, he is enjoying an 80+ percentage approval rating. At a point in time when we need to work together, I consider this very, very good news.)

Annie–Ah, great minds, you know Happy Inauguration Day to you, too!

Chookie, January 21st, 2009 at 4:30 am:

Great clip! May the United States arise in hope!

Susan Harris, January 21st, 2009 at 7:33 pm:

I’m STILL crying; how about you?

gina, January 21st, 2009 at 7:39 pm:

Colleen – I took a vacation day just so I could watch all the festivities. It was amazing! Just like election night, I cried like a bitch through the entire thing. I know it’s going to be a ruff ride, but I feel so confident about this!

One of the thing’s I’m happiest about, is that it is being given the attention that it deserves. It’s a big deal!

Colleen Vanderlinden, January 21st, 2009 at 7:47 pm:

Chookie– Amen!

Susan–Oh, my God. I watched with my 5 year old, and she looked at me like I was nuts. “Why are you crying??” Explaining to a five year old that she’s experiencing history is nearly impossible. And further explaining what it feels like to be proud of your country again—forget it. I’m SO happy!

Colleen Vanderlinden, January 21st, 2009 at 7:50 pm:

Gina—Wasn’t it amazing? I cried and grinned for pretty much the entire day. It is going to be rough, but if anyone can make this country change for the better, it’s President Obama (don’t you just love saying that?)

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From the Archives

My Country, My President

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13 comments to “My Country, My President”

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