Barack Obama

As many of you already know, I voted for Barack Obama in November. (I also know that many of you did not approve). I was excited for the inauguration, as was the rest of the country. And then I missed it. I'm not quite sure what happened- most of the news stations were covering it all day, U2 was even there. Sometimes I feel like I'm on my own little planet. I'm pretty sure Fablehaven had something to do with it. And maybe having a house full of two year old girls.

I admit, that as much as I like Obama, the amount of attention and craziness that accompanied his inauguration had me worried. The media has been treating him like a rockstar, not a president. I hope that he can stay grounded.

Today I had a minute to read the speech he gave, and it reminded me why I voted for him. I think it is great how he talks about what we have to do, that the government can't fix all of our problems. I love how he wants to bring everyone together. His speech made me excited for the next four years.

Here is a section from his speech that I thought was very powerful:

"For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter’s courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent’s willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.

"Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends – hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism – these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. 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 price and the promise of citizenship.

"This is the source of our confidence – the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny."

Let's hope that he is not a wolve in sheep's clothing or a guy with a great speech writer. I really think he wants to make America better, and that his intentions are pure. I hope that he will be as great as the speeches he gives.