One Brick Short

I waited with baited breath for the new classic line to come from President Barack Obama’s inaugural speech, but the new “ask not” or “fear is fear itself” never showed.

What did show was the new president’s grasp of history and the powerful use of icons such George Washington crossing the Delaware River. What showed was his willingness to endure some criticism by having a conservative white preacher open the show and a black preacher close the show. What showed was his ability to invoke FDR, JFK and anyone whose history was not besmirched by some taint of economic or social disaster.

What he told us was that we need to pull ourselves together, join in unison and do something. Exactly what we’re supposed to do isn’t clear, but something we must do and we must do it now and keep doing it for years and years.

Can’t say that I disagree. Can’t say that I disagree when he warned that our economic crisis, our military crisis, our social crisis does not end when his term in office begins. I can say I agree with most everything he said and that, in his words, there is hope for change.

Unfortunately, it’s not the government that provides change. It’s not the banks that provide change. We need to make the change. Those of us of various epidermal hues and political drifts, we are the change and I’m not all that sure we are willing to do the work. Making a change requires working together, moderating our views, understanding others and forgiving those who trespass against us that we may be forgiven our trespasses.

The hoots and hollers and boos and hisses of outgoing President George W. Bush do not reflect well on the liberals’ ability to change and embrace the new paradigm. The conservatives who have already begun attacking President Obama’s policies—before the policies are even presented—and who mock him before he has a chance to perform, do not seem willing to embrace any sort of change.

There’s a new sheriff in town and he brings a hope. It’s the old posse on the left and right who will decide if that hope has a chance.