This, this and that

[turk_diddler]

Most Americans on my friends page seem to have been genuinely touched by yesterday's events, and fair enough to them, history and hope and everything. For me, I just thought his speech was flat, even tedious once the realisation dawns that it's all rule-of-three listing. We'll face bad-bad-BAD, but we'll overcome with good-good-GOOD. Lazy speech-

Comments

[lilyvalley]

I think the speech was fine. I think he had to strike a delicate balance between unbridled passion and the reality of the situation the country is in. No speech would please everyone. Anyway, there were a few memorable lines. My favorite was "As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals." As an added bonus, it was quite the dig at Bush. He mentioned atheists and agnostics; I honestly don't know if any other inauguration speech has done that. Of course the speech was rah rah rah; really, what else could he have done? I think if you read between the lines, it says "Hey, world, yeah, we sucked the last few years. I promise we won't suck quite so bad for the next few, m'kay

[turk_diddler]

In the context of the last 8 years, I mean sure, good speech, in terms of history though, more oomph please.

I try to avoid flirting with workmen too, even the cute ones.

[artemis_of_isle]

Aww, how could you resist?

[bluehorse]

I also thought the speech was fine, and frankly, I wasn't expecting fireworks. I expected him to show he was indeed "No-drama Obama" by cutting off all the fat and getting right to the point, which is what he did, politely, clearly and sharply. Sometimes we need whole-grain bread instead of sugary cake.

Now, Aretha disappointed me. I don't know if it was her age or the incredible cold, but her voice wasn't up to her usual. That hat was sort of silly too, but that's an African-American cultural thing. I guess you haven't had the opportunity to see black American ladies all dressed up for important occasions like church, have you?

[turk_diddler]

Only in the movies. Of course I dig soul music, but man alive, even with the history of the day that rendition seemed OTT, like Fannie Lou Hamer on amphetamines.

[bluehorse]

OTT? Funny, I thought it sounded weak for her, like she was trying so hard she couldn't make voice work its usual magic. I still think the extreme cold was part of the problem, and maybe she was emotionally overcome by the moment as well. I mean, this may be nothing more than the usual American bs for you, but for a lot of us it was kinda important.

[turk_diddler]

Oh definitely a touch of only in America... about it, there again, among the developed nations only America looks capable of accepting a black guy as leader (even after the given that you have more of them to choose from), so I think we can forgive the unbridled ostentation this time.

Also, here in the UK we're coming to the conclusion of the New Labour government we elected back in '97, when everything then seemed to fresh and young and hopefully and new after the self-inflicted nightmare of Thatcherism. We couldn't be more jaded about politics, aspiration is delayed disillusionment and not a lot else. Here's hoping America isn't disappointed.

[artemis_of_isle]

Here politicians are generally regarded much lower than in America, I suppose. It's hardly any occasion like this possible in the UK. American seem to think their president should be revered, whereas here prime minister should be cross-examined.

[turk_diddler]

Oh I don't think they necessarily respect their presidents, that's just part of the good old American self-mythology. George Bush revered? Bill Clinton revered after Monicagate? Like the rest of us they respect the position of leader so long as it's occupied by somebody they agree with, otherwise they become cynics just like we do.

But then so much of America shrouded in mythology that we all tend to lose perspective and pretend they're a special case.

Won't begrudge them their current glee, he's a politician though, so always proceed with caution.

[artemis_of_isle]

American seem to think their president should be revered, whereas here prime minister should be cross-examined.

Should be, doesn't mean it has always been the case. What I emphasised was that American would like to revere their presidents whenever it were possible, but here nobody would be expected to. Hence their euphoria over this event.

Does this make sense?

[turk_diddler]

I suppose it does. I think I'd rather be on the skeptical side of the Atlantic on that one, because like I say, beyond it all it he's a politician and bound to do something horrible along the way. At least the cynics won't look like idiots when it happens.

eu⋅pho⋅ri⋅a
   /yuˈfɔriə, -ˈfoʊr-/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [yoo-fawr-ee-uh, -fohr-] Show IPA Pronunciation
-noun Psychology.
a feeling of happiness, confidence, or well-being sometimes exaggerated in pathological states as mania.

I think you picked the right word!

[pallasathene8]

I liked the bit about unclenching our fists to shake hands, and the nod to nonbelievers was nice. I thought it was very diplomatic as well, making clear there would be some changes while phrasing it in ways that would bring people together rather than freak certain groups out.

[turk_diddler]

As I say, it was just light on the kind of eye-opening phraseology that'll echo in 40 years time, partly because so much of it was about the mistakes of the previous eight. Sure that plays well to the crowd now, but the day after tomorrow?
Perhaps it suits our modern times though, it'll be pictures that get remembered, instead of the actual words.

[turk_diddler]

May I exclaim a perhaps ironical amen to that!

[ranunculus]

I'm as skeptical as anyone I know. I don't expect Obama to be the next Messiah, or even to keep many of his campaign promises - I know he can't as does anyone who has lived through a few presidents or has read any history

[turk_diddler]

Makes me wonder what his impact would have been if he'd merely followed Clinton, Bush I, or Reagan into the Whitehouse. How much of that euphoria do you suppose is actually relief that one of the worst presidencies in American history is finally over? He very much appears to be a man for the times, a real Mr Right Now, I'll give Obama that, but could it be that as the most accessible political embodiment of modern American enlightenment he has magnified that No More Bush relief beyond all capacity to rationally consider him by his own strengths, policies and experience?

[ranunculus]

I'm not at all sure that Obama could have been elected to follow Clinton. Even in this election it wasn't at all a sure thing until the closing days of the campaign. I really do think he is very much a "man of the times" as you suggest