|
|
|
|
| A Historical Day |
|
| January 20, 2009 |
|
It's one of those days that you may not recognize as being different than other day, but one day you'll look back and say "I remember where I was, I remember that day". It's one of those days you get to tell your grand-kids about. That's what today is!
Today, I woke up feeling just a bit different. I woke up thinking the world was going to be a bit different. Today, January 20, 2009 Barack Obama will take the Oath of Office and be sworn in as the 44th President of the United States. Now, I'm not political, and I am not stating anything on behalf of my partner or other folks here at DANIMA, but I am saying that I am quite glad that the 43rd President is on his way out. I'm pretty sure that the global community feels the same. I remember being at Jack's Cantina watching the Maddhatters jam with my best pal Dave who was in from Vietnam, when it was announced that Barack Obama had won! The crowd cheered, and I remember feeling relieved. Relieved that our brothers to the south saw the same things that the rest of the globe saw - there needed to be a change...a change in philosophy, a change in direction...a change! That day I went home and cracked open a KLB Raspberry Wheat and sat on the couch and listened to an amazing speech, by what I think will be the person who brings respectability and honour back to the U.S. and the office of the President. It's hard to believe that, for 8 years, the Leader of the Free World had poorer grammar skills and less of a vocabulary than my 4 year old son. I'll miss Letterman's "Great Presidential Speeches" piece...but that's about it. So long to a man who sent his own citizens to die needlessly in a war that he still defends as he makes his exit. Mr. Bush you may have felt differently if it were your daughters fighting and dying. You won't be missed.
As Bruce Springsteen stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial with a choir of about 100 standing behind him on Sunday, January 18, 2008, the words, that were originally written after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, gave me a chill. Today that Rising begins and it begins with the faith and hope placed in Barack Obama. Not just for the resurgence of the United States of America, but for a better world order. Politics aside, the cool thing about today is that we are witnessing history. No matter what side you're on...it's a historical day. Yesterday was Martin Luther King day in the States. How fitting. His dream has come true. For that alone, I am so proud of our neighbours to the South. "It's been a long time comin', but now it's here" (as Mr. Springsteen sang a few years back). By the reaction of many other Canadians, it's easy to see that today effects everyone...Canadians, the U.S. and the rest of the Global community. It's a great day, it's a great change. And today at Noon, the world will see a new face in office in the U.S. and they will see hope and they will see change. I for one, hope that people give this man a chance to dig out of the 2 wars and the recession that he inherited from the previous administration. No matter how it pans out...you can't change the fact that the Office of the President has changed forever...and we were here to see this day.
May God be with you President Obama on your journey. Thanks for giving us all hope! |
|
|
|
|
|
