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20 January 2009
Although I'm not really less anxious about the future, it's hard not to feel inspired, watching the Inauguration of President Barack Obama today. Despite the botched swearing-in by John Roberts, despite the way the poetry fell flat (compare it to the best prose of the ceremony and tell me how it ranks as poetic utterance), despite the questionable choice of song reference by Rev. Lawry in the benediction... none of these things could detract from an inspiring moment in history that I'm glad to have been able to watch (thank you to my school for scheduling time to watch it into our day!).
I continue to be happy to hear Obama speak the language of sacrifice, of dealing with difficulty, of pulling together: that's what it's going to take. It was encouraging to hear Obama acknowledge "non-believers" alongside Christian, Muslims, Jews, and Hindus, instead of the right-wing rejection of atheists as "real" Americans. It was nice to hear him say that "We will restore science to its rightful place and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality," after eight years of science twisted for a political agenda (climate change) or held hostage to narrow religious principles (stem cell research). Despite all the god-talk (some from Obama and, of course, the fact of book-ending the whole thing with prayers), it was about as much as an atheist could expect.
He says "We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories," and I have mixed feelings, not because these aren't noble goals (well, the "soil" reference might not be, if we're talking ethanol), but because I worry that Obama's vision in this regard may be too limited. When he goes on to say "we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age," it sounds good, but what does it mean? How clearly does he see what those "demands" will be (to be fair, how clearly do any of us see them)? When it comes down to it, I guess the fact is that I'd feel a whole lot better about this Presidency... if it had happened four years ago. No help for that: even so, I have to think that Obama is a fine choice who will do better than many would have. Color me cautiously optimistic.