"We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions — that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America...Such a great moment.
We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. All this we will do...
As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our founding fathers ... our found fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all the other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more...
We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you...
For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace...
To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West — know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist...
What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility — a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task...
This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed — why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent Mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath..."
Other thoughts and highlights:
- Shame on Justice Alito for not showing up just because he's still bitter at Obama and Biden for voting against his confirmation. It's a pity that a member of the highest Court in the land can't get over childish grudges, move on, and appreciate the historic nature of this event. Luckily, the Supreme Court and White House rarely have to associate directly.
- The message in Rev. Warren's invocation was good, but he definitely went overboard on the Christian aspect. There was no need for all that Jesus praise at this event.
- Aretha Franklin wore a giant bow to make the rest of her look small (I'm cruel, I know).
- The performance headlined by Itzhak Perlman and Yo-Yo Ma was incredible.
- Now, Obama and Biden also voted against Chief Justice Roberts. Was his slip-up revenge, or was it a legitimate case of butterflies? We'll let you be the critic.
- Elizabeth Alexander's poem may have been good, but the entire country (and world) probably admits that the delivery was awful. There was no need to pronounce every word like it was its own sentence. Cadence? I think not.
- Rev. Lowery also had a good message in his benediction, but again was a little heavy on the Christian overtones. But ending it with: "Black will not be asked to get back, Brown can stick around, Yellow will be mellow, the Red man can get ahead man, and White will embrace what is right!"was the official, in Internet-speak, "WTF LOL" moment of the afternoon. I mean, I was always joking about racism ending with Obama taking office...
