So, Who Is Now "The Man"?
Congratulations to President Barack Obama on becoming the 44th President of THESE United States. I love how people say that, these, as if “united states” could describe anywhere else at this point. When you hear about Lebanon, do you think of Lebanon, IN, the "The Friendly City", or Lebanon, OH. No you don’t... unless you live there. Either way, these United States just regained half the clout they lost when draft- shoe-dodger gutted our constitution and military.
Obama’s inaugural speech, just like the one he delivered at the DNC, was as epic and memorable as any speech could ever be, and I said the same thing after each one. “We have waited years to hear this from a politician”. Where is this stuff coming from? We can’t get writing like that anywhere in today’s media. There isn’t a movie or tv script or book in the last two decades with the same fluidity of American machismo, the same breadth of unconditional acceptance and affirmation of true nationalism, the same realistic understanding and translation to American ears saying, “Yes, we are rich, spoiled bastards you had no actual choice in electing. But I get it, I see the woes and will not hide them from you as they did before. I will remove the wool placed over your eyes a hundred years ago and I will not let them hurt you anymore. Oh, and I’m black”.
As for all the people threatening him, calling for his head and wanting him out of office because he’s not, well, completely white, jump off of your dilapidated trailer onto a rail spike. Can you really not see that America will rebuild through him? You do know all them rich WHITE people on Wall Street are the reason you and your buddies are losing their jobs and houses, right? I realize most of you don’t have stocks and investments that keep you attentive to the evil market even though your precious Fox News has covered it thoroughly. Perhaps you were busy forming the militia. Yes, all this “Hope” and “Change” jive is just Democratic chanting and propaganda, but a white American can not sustain on chants and propaganda alone either. Every nation needs a strong financial, military, and fundamental base to succeed, even one run by the purest of races.
I watched the inauguration at the office with workmates, thanks to the boss streaming it online and letting us abandon our duties for a spell. Prepared to listen to it on the radio, I’m sure the experience was much more powerful live via video feed. It felt as though we were troops in another country, under a tent and weary from stress. We gathered around the 22'’ monitor and let the inspirational fire warm our weathered souls and fill us with an unfettered unity we only remembered from our childhoods, well before the social distortion broke our souls. On a much less romantic note, I don’t know if I was more miffed about my knees and back seizing up from standing for only an hour long or the millions of dollars spent for it to only be an hour long. More than all that, I was disappointed in the people driving by and walking around, working and sleeping, doing anything other than living and breathing this momentous occasion. It’s not about witnessing history. It’s about listening to the message and getting with the program. How can we all work together if only half of us are paying attention?
We do have a lot to accomplish as a country. Not me or you particularly, but the collective “we”. All of us need to become part of the solution, whatever that part is. You will know when it is your time, because you will hear the voice of... wait, that’s God. Um, You will get a text message as soon as he chooses the Vice Pres... er, damn. Look, just do what he says, for crying out loud. If for no other reason than he is willing to put his life on the line to right a history of wrongs. He stood on that stage and showed us all he understands us, that he relates to us, all the way down to our long overdue need for a public flogging of W and all the other greedy blowhards in attendance:
"On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.”
And they all clapped like it was someone else’s fault. Silly politicians.
Congratulations, President Barack Obama. Tomorrow, sober up and get busy.
