An end to political cynicism?
Yesterday, January 20, in the freezing weather of Washington, D.C., nearly 2 million people gathered in our nation’s Capitol to witness the inauguration of President Barack Obama. That picture of Americans, young and old, from different backgrounds huddled together, ignorant of prejudices, personified the hope that we all feel for real change in our country.
But Obama did not use a silver-tongue to add a silver lining to the “gathering clouds” under which his oath was taken or the job that lay before him as the 44th President. The crowd, expecting a more upbeat outlook, was jolted back to reality by Obama’s somber speech. He talked of the war, the economy, healthcare, education, and energy, claiming, “these are the indicators of [our] crisis.” He cautioned Americans that the challenges we face are real and serious, and they can’t be easily fixed in a short amount of time. But he offered hope, saying that “They will be met.”
Over the past eight years, we have heard many Presidential speeches that gloss over the hardships, the sacrifices that must be made to solve our problems. While it may seem encouraging at the time to hear a happy report, it only leads to doubt and suspicion when the truth is anything but happy. President Obama advised that “this is the price and the promise of citizenship”; we must accept the bad news and revisit our responsibilities to our country and to each other.
Obama addressed one of my biggest concerns during the inaugural speech: how will he inspire a nation that has become so cynical? It seems as though we have lost faith in politicians, the system, our parties and our votes. We expect to hear more bad news everyday. Even Generation Y, being young and considered inexperienced in this world, has become jaded.
The most reassuring aspect from the speech is the realistic commitment to bring the country back to the programs that restore our faith in the government. Yesterday all generations were called upon to demand more of their government. Obama said, “The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works.” That one line reached beyond party boundaries into the very heart of our problems as a country. We must make government work for all the people.
He spoke of our need to forget our intolerances and mend the rip that has divided our country for eight years. He reminded us that preceding generations faced communism, fascism, and the perils of war not with weapons but with convictions. President Obama reassured us that our ideals are more powerful than any force that can stand against us. Yesterday, his words empowered us with the belief that our voices can and will be heard. He lifted us above the crisis.
January 20, 2009, was a day when even the most cynical person could look at a crowd of 2 million standing strong and together, facing the hard task of rebuilding America, and be comforted by the President’s words.
Category: U.S.
