Jon Favreau and Barack Hussein Obama. That's a potent mix and has been so for some time. A cunning speechwriter together with a charismatic and inspirational orator.
I was listening to President Obama (I love typing that, but let's go one better): I was listening to President Barack Hussein Obama's inaugural address on my little radio whilst stuck on a train with my little black notebook, ready to leap on any phrase that proved an easy target for a Marxist curmudgeon and long-standing anti-US protester.
Yet here I am actually euphoric about a US Presidential inauguration.
Yes, you heard.
This is something that nobody - least of all ME - ever thought would happen. Normally if I hear someone say they are proud to be an American I wince in pain and launch "Dive" at them in a merciless tirade of ranty rhetoric, yet today I would hug them.
Let's just take a few phrases from that speech (only a very few as I know some of you get bored easily and if you let me have my way I would debate every sentence of it at length):
First up:
"I thank President Bush for his service to our nation".
Well … Favreau obviously knows that starting with a joke is a great way to get your listeners' attention and empathy … and that was a fucking awesome joke!
And made even funnier by Obama's deadpan delivery.
"On this day we gather because we have chosen hope over fear …"
A great phrase, and one that totally sticks it to the previous administration who whipped up the American people into a frenzy of fear then fucked 'em up the ass by using that fear to tear up civil liberties, to ignore habeas corpus and international law, to falsely imprison and torture with seeming impunity and much, much more.
We will have to wait and see what actually happens but it was nice to hear rejection of "government by fear".
" … In the words of scripture …"
A little clunky, Mister Favreau, but we understand you have to appease the Godbotherers.
"The God-given promise that all are equal…"
Woohoo! I actually got one! The one and only phrase in the entire speech that I can take issue with (though only a little and on a point of semantics).
Those wonderful words: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal …"
Those words were written by men of the Enlightenment; men who valued reason above superstition and at least one of whom would these days be hounded out of the midwest as atheist scum. Men who argued against putting "endowed by their Creator" into the Declaration and only did it to grudgingly appease the Godbotherers of their day.
The words of Thomas Paine; of Jefferson and Franklin; men of reason and science rather than religion.
Wonderful words but definitely not God-given; instead given to the world by rational men who questioned God's existence.
"… a nation cannot prosper long when it favours only the prosperous."
Yee-fucking-ha! Now, you're talking!
"To all other peoples and governments … we are ready to lead once more."
This is the biggie.
The "once more" was - I take it - another one of Favreau's excellent jokes, as up until today, a statement that America is ready to lead, coming from the mouth of a US President meant only one thing: using US political power and "might is right" to force unwilling nations to support illegal wars.
In this case it seems - from the paragraphs leading up to the phrase - that things are different.
That the US under President Obama will indeed lead …
But LEAD BY EXAMPLE.
That is the most welcome news I think I have heard from any US politician over the past fifty years of my life.
The President's speech was full to the brim with inspirational talk about the economy, climate change, employment, healthcare and a commitment to seeking peace instead of bringing war and suffering.
Jefferson, Franklin, Adams, et al must be baffled, laying there in the darkness with the sudden realisation that they have stopped spinning in their graves.
The President also stressed that the USA is a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers.
From over here outside its borders the USA is regarded as pretty near to a fundamentalist theocracy; a Christian Fundamentalist state in the same way that Afghanistan under the Taliban is a Muslim Fundamentalist state.
The President's speech hints at Thomas Jefferson's own First Amendment: freedom of choice in religion, including - and this is the new and important piece - freedom to choose not to worship any God or Gods.
Freedom to be a rational US citizen.
And this leads us on to my own personal favourite phrase from the President's inaugural speech:
"We will restore science to its rightful place …"
To hear that phrase uttered by a US President is so wonderful and so shocking that I am still reeling.
Thomas Jefferson presided over the glorious days of The Age of Enlightenment.
Will Barack Obama herald a New Age of Enlightenment?
We shall start to find out tomorrow morning.
The Godbotherers must be shitting their pants.
Whatever happens now, this has been a momentous day in human history.
And one that has left me astonished and surprised and a little baffled at the prospect that the nation I had railed against all my long life may just be coming to its senses.
What the fuck can I rant about now?
The full text of the speech is here and it is worth reading again.
15 comments:
Oh Dive, I am quite sure you will have much to rant about. If you can't come up with any ideas, allow me to suggest some.
I listened to the speech while parked in a Wal-mart parking lot with my kids. We watched the seagulls while Obama made history. I pointed out to my kids that someday, they would thank me for that. Nothing more American than Wal-mart, seagulls and a minivan. God bless us, every one!
Katherine, I am too tired and too happy to rant.
We will always remember where we heard Obama's inaugural speech (hopefully the first and not the only). A Walmart parking lot and a train are as good as any places.
It blew me away when Barack and Michelle got out of the bulletproof car and walked to the bulletproof viewing stand completely unprotected through masses of cheering people.
You gotta love the man!
first, you admit you really do love christmas and now this? dive-alish is happy for america? about america? ;) xoxoxo
seriously, even the cynic in me was moved and happy that finally, we have a president who can give the intellectual equivalent of a bitch slap!
Great words from President Obama. He is a winner and I believe he is the real deal. It should be noted that the President always does not get all of his wish list. Im rooting for peace and prosperity for all. His work starts tomorrow and I am on his side. We have had many years of turmoil and strife. Im ready for a different outlook. Best wishes to our new and talented President.
You should see it over here. It is just...amazing. People walking around smiling and shaking their heads. It is as if we have all been asleep for year after horrible year and now we are awake and the sun is shining.
I, too, like the inclusion of non-believers and the restoration of science.
I'm cautiously optimistic with a touch of cynical skepticism.
Dive,
Thank you for your positive commentary. The speech was incredible. I hope he proves to be the man of substance that he appears. (Thanks for the link to the complete text).
The best moment however was the one where the Bushes flew off in the helicopter!
I'm so glad you got to hear President Obama's speech on the train today, and that you took the time to write this great post. I'm a little thrown though. Dive is euphoric? No ranty rhetoric? You want to hug Americans? Wow - Small Glass Planet really has been knocked slightly off it's axis by President Obama's speech. Words are powerful - especially words that look like they can be backed up with some real action.
It won't be easy to turn around what's happened in the last 8 years, but it's a good start to hear about the values Obama thinks will be the building blocks: "honesty and hard work, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity". Amen to that! (Wait, I'm one of those nonbelievers he mentioned.)
You want to hug Americans? So, it's safe for me to visit London? Then again I do not wish to provoke ranting. :D
Shit, forgot to add: lovely tribute to our new Prez.
Hi, Kate!
I do love to start the day being called a "monkey-fucker". Hee hee.
I grovel in abject apology for the dreadful Australian version of the BBC's website. Had I known that they'd stick you with an ad for "Visit England" I would have posted a warning.
But now we're on the subject, come over anyway, and bring The Groover.
Once she's licked all the conflakes off your cleavage, that is.
Savannah: It is now the morning after and I am appalled by my statement that I would hug an American (present company excepted, of course).
Add to "don't blog drunk" the warning "don't blog when euphoric".
xoxoxo
Great words indeed, Mark.
If even a tenth of his wish list comes to fruition the world will be a much better place.
Maria: Waking up from an eight year nightmare to find a sunny day must be amazing.
Hi, Lulu! Cautiously optimistic with a touch of cynical skepticism is a wonderful way to be, and something that's not been possible for a long, long time.
Neetzy: The "Dive" in me tried really, really hard to find fault but there was none to be found.
I too loved seeing Bush evacuated from the White House like the last Yank out of Saigon. Though even funnier was laughing at Cheney stuck in a wheelchair having hurt his back shifting all those incriminating files. Yay!
HI, Katie!
Dive was indeed euphoric yesterday. He tried to rant but all that came out was "Yay!"
And what a splendid day for us Godless Heathens!
The only downer is that I - along with all the other satirists and cynics - am left bereft of an easy target. I shall have to actually WORK for my posts now, dammit!
A small price to pay, however.
Cali: It is never safe to visit London when I am there.
I am still euphoric, actually. People are sharing stories, saying things like, "so did you watch?! Did you watch?! Did you cry?! Can you believer it?!" chills.
I'll say, though, Dive, I don't know the speech writer, but I didn't think it was clunky for President Obama (woohoo) to say "in the words of Scripture" because he himself has a deep sense of faith and is familiar with Scripture and believes in God.
Great and very amusing post,dive. I saw a photo yesterday with the Obama's and Biden's waving goodbye to Bush as his helicopter lifted. I had to wonder what they were saying to each other. We can fill in the blanks quite well I'm sure.
Here's to new hope!!
Hey, what can I say? I love him and what he stands for! The speech was so intelligent, inspiring and dead on. That nitwit from the BBC who said Obama's speech was grim should be shot!
Oooh, I forgot to mention - the romantic in me cannot help but admire the relationship he has with his wife and two daughters. It's so genuine!
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