Day 16
Every single day I am proud and honored to be an American. But today... today I was profoundly proud of the dignified way that President Bush and his wife "passed the torch" to the Obamas. It was sincere, full of grace, and genuinely touching. People can say whatever they wish about President Bush, but he was full of class today. And even though I was unable to watch the Inauguration live, I was moved by the words of President Obama's speech. The following section meant the most to me...
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.
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.
Too often, we forget how America was born. We forget that She has been stained with the blood of heroes that fought for a New World - fighting for freedoms that belong to every man, woman, and child. This is a nation built from survivors, innovators, visionaries, warriors, poets, immigrants, laborers, believers, dreamers, and explorers. Being American is not just a label. It's a creed... a complete state of being, and we all must take on our responsibilities as citizens, for we are the government, the people, and it is our duty to face the future with strength, integrity, confidence, and wisdom.
May God bless our country and may He lead our new president down the right paths for our nation.
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1 comments:
I love your words for today! Well said.
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