Megan Boyle’s Blog

Dear friends,

I weep with joy. It is 12:01 and Barack Obama is now President of the United States.  I write you from the top floor suites of offices of Baker and McKenzie, with thanks to my husband and his firm for providing a bird’s eye view of the White House, the Washington Monument and the millions on the mall. After an hour and a half of walking and attempting to enter the mall, we chose this amazing indoor/outdoor site (with balcony overlooking the parade viewing stand) to not only hear the cheers of the crowds but to see on television, the new President of the United States and hear his stirring, faith-filled Inaugural address.

Once again, I can only say it is surreal and wonderfully real to be here. Walking the streets, it seemed a mix of Mardi Gras and a Will Smith movie: police everywhere, folks almost fleeing to get to the mall, stores closed, busses joined nose to nose blocking access to the restricted streets, the nucleus of this weekend’s activities.

In true democratic fashion, our group of eight voted to abandon the mall perimeter and go inside to quell our fears that we would get close but not close enough to see and hear the Inaugural address.

I am thrilled for what we did see: that sea of people moving, hearing them sing “America the Beautiful,” the bright sunshine beaming over it all. And the final visual before the parade begins (which we can clearly see a block away): the Bushes’ helicopter flying right over our heads as they return to Texas.

The Speech Highlights:

Short, well executed, strong, a challenge for the individuals and the world. He began graciously, thanking George Bush for his service and for his kindness in the transfer of power. Quickly, he set the tone, acknowledging that it is understood that this generation is in the midst of a crisis, a collective national failure that has strengthened our enemies, injured our planet and compromised our way of life.

Quick to reassure, Obama promised these challenges would be met, as hope over fear gathers us.  Invoking scripture, and in a very spiritual vein, Obama said, “The time has come to set aside childish things” in an effort to be sure all can achieve a full measure of happiness.  Obama’s speech emphasized that he will be looking to the pioneers, the risk takers, the doers, the makers of things to restore us to prosperity. He acknowledged those who fought and died and gave us this America, but he asserted that our nation’s “capacity” remains undiminished by this crisis.  “Everywhere we look there is work to be done,” said Obama in Kennedy-esque rhetoric. Obama promised we will harness sun and wind and improve our schools and colleges, repair our health care system and extend its protection. He asserted that the question of our time is not, “is our government too big, but does it work?”

His administration will repair the crisis created by greed and too little supervision and destructive excesses with wise spending, the end of waste and a commitment to do “our business in the light of day,” a jab at those in business, in Washington and on Wall Street where only the prosperous prospered. A call for human rights was clear: “The rule of law and rights of man must triumph.” Obama told the world, “We are ready to lead once more.” He accepted our mistakes, “Our power alone can’t protect us.” He thanked those men and women in the past and right now in the military for their service, acquiring and defending our freedom.

He spoke of peace in Iraq and self rule in Afghanistan.  He embraced new connections to the Muslim world but warned our enemies that the American spirit is stronger than terrorism, “You can’t outlast us and we will defeat you.”

Obama acknowledged, “The world has changed and we must change with it.” He invoked not Lincoln but Washington and his words from Valley Forge, reminding us that during that icy winter, like our current woes, the tide was changed by fallen heroes, serving soldiers that had something to tell us: the spirit of service must inhabit us all!!

Our challenges may be new, but honesty and hard work and patriotism are old and true and continue to dwell in us, the President said.  He reminded Americans, “We have duties,” and today we remember who we are and how far we have traveled.  We should go forward, keep this journey to its end and carry it safely for future generations.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 20th, 2009 at 2:50 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.