What a day. What a thrill. What history!
A couple of thousand miles away from the U.S. Capitol, I watched every image and listened to every word surrounding the inauguration of President Barack Obama.
Senator Dianne Feinstein did an outstanding job of managing the “proceedings.” Her welcoming remarks were short, sweet, and yet so right.
The United States Marine Band was rousing, and the way the United States Navy Band’s “Sea Chambers” played and sang our national anthem sent tingles up my spine.
The singing and the music were incredible, and what can you say about Aretha Franklin that has not been said before.
Even “controversial choice” for delivering the invocation, Pastor Rick Warren, was OK, considering…
So good to see “Joe” take the vice-presidential oath of office, surrounded by his lovely family.
A talented and diverse quartet performed John Williams’ beautiful composition, “Air and Simple Gifts” flawlessly. Elizabeth Alexander’s poem was touching.
Rev. Dr. Joseph E. Lowerey’s benediction was god fearing, yet frank and even delightfully humorous at the end.
But, wait, I am leaving a couple of events and one very important person out.
And, no, I am not being sarcastic or a smart aleck, as you‘ll hopefully see.
There will be literally thousands of excellent articles analyzing and, according to my first impressions, heaping praise on the Inaugural Address of our 44th President.
In fact, I had been planning to listen to Barack Obama’s speech intently and to take copious notes in order to share my impressions of what has probably been one of the most anticipated and most “filled-with-expectations” inaugural addresses in U.S. history.
And I did listen attentively. I don’t think that Barack Obama disappointed anyone. In fact, in my humble opinion, he exceeded expectations—expectations that had already been set almost “unmeetable.”
Our new President’s speech was indeed historical, soaring, inspiring, and worthy of all the commending attributes that will be prodigiously used. It was all about, responsibility, service, Country, citizenship, renewal, hope, peace, but also about equal rights and Constitutional rights—in other words about desperately needed Change.
Nevertheless, it was only a speech—a darn good one at that. As Scott Shane put it so well in a recent New York Times article:
If any presidential speech can soar, it is the inaugural. Fueled by aspirations, untroubled by failures, it is the moment for poetry and promises, the source of phrases that can call up an era: The better angels of our nature. Nothing to fear but fear itself. Ask not what your country can do for you. The Great Society. A thousand points of light.”
Perhaps we now can add:
“As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals.”
“Our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.”
And,
“Let it be said by our children’s children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God’s grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.”
Yes, it was the moment for “poetry and promises.”
But there was another moment during the inaugural ceremony—before the inaugural address, before the moment for poetry and promises—that had already captured my attention, revived memories and touched upon my sense of right and wrong.
It was a short moment, and the words were plain and simple, yet majestic—as is our Constitution that prescribes the words.
The moment was when President-elect Barack Obama placed his left hand on the Lincoln Bible and firmly and fervently said these words:
“I, Barack Hussein Obama, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of the President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, so help me God.” (Shame that Chief Justice John Roberts screwed up this solemn moment)
Preserve, protect and defend not the corporations, not the special interests, not the political base, not the ideologues, but the Constitution of the United States.
At that moment, it became crystal clear to me, that every other promise or commitment Mr. Obama might make in his inaugural address—no matter how eloquent—will be worthless if he doesn’t keep his solemn promise to preserve, protect and defend our Constitution.
After eight long, dark years, Mr. Obama’s oath of office has never been more pertinent, appropriate or reassuring. America needed to hear those words again. And, yes, America can make those sacred words relevant again.
The author is a retired U.S. Air Force officer and a writer.