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Obama Inauguration January 20, 2009
January 20, 2009 is a day that Americans will be proud to etch in their rich history. Who would ever think that only about 40 years ago, black Americans were denied voting rights, known as disenfranchisement? And because they could not vote, they were virtually powerless to stop discrimination in public accommodations, education, economic opportunities, or housing.
Another amazing fact, previously not well-known and officially acknowledged only in 2005, is that the Capitol Building where the inaugurations take place, the White House and other buildings in Washington, D. C., were built mostly on the backs of black slaves in the 1790s and 1850s!
President Barack Obama appeals to Americans – and to the world – not only because he made history, but because he is literally an “international manâ€: born of a white American mother and a black immigrant from Kenya, and raised in Hawaii and Indonesia.
I just wish that someday, hopefully sooner than later, Filipinos would use their precious voting rights as intelligently as Americans, and vote based on issues much more than on personalities and on getting money for their votes. Filipinos must pay attention to how Americans conduct their elections, transfer of power, and government affairs, instead of watching and imitating all the garbage that comes from Hollywood and elsewhere.
One historical trivia question about American presidential inaugurations: Which American president served the shortest term?
William Henry Harrison (1773-1841)
Answer: President William Henry Harrison, who served only for 31 days. Wanting to prove that he was still the heroic general, he delivered a two-hour speech without an overcoat on a bitterly cold inauguration day on March 4, 1841. He then rode through the streets in the inaugural parade. Three weeks after his inauguration, he developed a cold which led to pneumonia, and died on April 4, 1841. Note: there is no medical proof that cold weather exposure causes colds, flu, or pneumonia.
Extremely difficult days face the Obama administration. But no matter what happens during his administration, this day will be gratefully and joyfully remembered by all Americans.
Again, congratulations, America!
8 Comments
I’m actually more proud of Pastor Rick Warren for his testimony for Christ and the sincere prayer for our country and new president. He lifted the name of Jesus without fear, giving honor to where is really belongs, the Creator of the universe. There are still faithful servants in the the USA, for which I am personally thankful. We will see what and who our new president is as time goes on. It’s far too early to be “enchanted”…he hasn’t done anything yet, but we are watching and praying for his every success in his job as a servant to us all.
I didn’t read more, Nollie, but your sentence below shows that there are many factors influencing your outlook on this poor, sad choice of a lost nation that knows not Moses.
<em>January 20, 2009 is a day that Americans will be proud to etch in their rich history. Who would ever think that only about 40 years ago, black Americans were denied voting rights, known as disenfranchisement?</em>
Ted, I think Americans are not proud and hopeful of Obama because he will America’s “savior,” but we are proud of America’s democracy and freedom, its peaceful transition of power for the 44th time, and that a wonderful process like this can happen only in America and very few other nations.
Compare this, as I do in this post, with countries like the Philippines, where the electorate is not wise; where the people will go to the streets to kick out any president because they can’t wait for his six-year term to be completed; where every year, there is talk of changing the Constitution; where public officials are not accountable to the law, except for very, very rare cases.
And majority of the world is like, if not worse than, the Philippines.
Yes, I know you have been critical of Rick Warren. I do read your posts.
But on another note I will take issue with your comment to Ted. You said, “and that a wonderful process like this can happen only in America and very few other nations.” Well, you are correct that not many have the freedoms we have but I’ve never been more dismayed at the American voting process as I have in this election. The “press” and the liberal Hollywood elected Obama. The coverage was clearly biased, never giving a fair understanding/coverage to the American citizens of the issues for each candidate.
One of the silliest examples toward the end of the campaign was that of Palins wardrobe expenses. The press stooped to an all time low belittling her while never even talking about the costs of Michelle Obamas clothes. It’s embarrassing.
Maybe we just have to blame the American people for not demanding unbiased reporting. This has been the end of “news reporting” in my view and it makes me sad.
As far as our president being black, those are not the issues I care about. I voted for principals, ethics and for who the men/women are, not what their appearence is on the outside. I voted for a black man in the primaries, not because he is black but because he is a godley man. We really need to move beyond the exterior.
Again, as a follower of Christ, I will pray and honor our new president. I hope the Lord will extend much mercy to him and our country.
Bobbie, I applaud you for voting on principals and ethics. I daresay that’s a lot better criteria than most people use.
But let me ask you, did the liberal press and Hollywood prevent G.W. Bush (the bane of their existence) from getting elected, twice? Of course there are liberal elements in the media, but there are conservative ones as well. You will be hard-pressed to find unbiased reporting anywhere, because there is no such thing as an unbiased person. Even the “nonpartisan” voting guide I received from Focus on the Family a few years back (when times were much, much better) was worded in such a way that it was pretty clear which side Focus on the Family thought I should support.
As for the Palin wardrobe thing, the difference is that Palin was running for VP and Michelle Obama wasn’t running for anything. Palin was trying to set herself up as a small-town, folksy outsider who spurred the money-grabbing culture of Washington D.C., so what was she doing buying thousands of dollars worth of clothes? Even fellow Republicans criticized Palin for that — not just liberals. Anyway, if you asked Palin opponents why they didn’t support her, I think the answer you would get would not involve her wardrobe but rather the fact that in her interviews and debates, she seemed dreadfully uninformed and ill-prepared.
And again, it’s not like the media only criticizes the Republicans for things like Palin’s wardrobe. Remember the media flack John Edwards received for his $400 haircut? And how about the jeers from the conservative media when Obama spoke of keeping tires properly inflated as a way to conserve oil? We can’t blame the press for everything. If Republicans want to blame somebody for their losses in 2008, they should look no further than W.
Nollie,
There are many ancillary issues and perspectives The principal issues that drove our decision were:
Abortion
Homosexuality
Support for Israel
The redistribution of wealth (which implies increased taxes)
Prior military experience of the CIC (in a time of war)
Obama was only able to align himself with our positions on the third issue. He has stated categorically that he will support Israel. His positions on all of the other issues seemed inadequate to us. So, we were unable to support him because of his positions. So, now you know, we didn’t vote for Obama. But, enough people did vote for him to allow him to be elected. So be it. Like most, we hope for the best but, we will not rejoice in Obama’s election or inauguration simply because he is black as this was never the criteria for our decision.
Thanks for the links, Nollie.
Comment Nollie, there is only one race the human race and only two kingdoms that of light and that of darkness. This man comes from a church that preaches black liberation theology which is marxism in theological clothing promogated throught the preaching of racist victimology. He is now leading the charge to destroy this nation as founded by God through its fore fathers. The color of his skin means absolutely nothing. Let us not fall into the trap of seeing through the eyes of the dead man’s view of “the races” for they believe there is no God and that they “evolved” and that some are more so than others. Every nation, tongue and tribe started from one man and he was created by God as was everyone who followed. As a marxist President Obama is currently preaching economic woe and says he will stimulate the economy but this by pouring gasoline on the fire which by they way they started. The economy plummets further. “We must do more!” This man has an agenda but it is not to preserve the nation but bring it under a fictious utopian and “humane” communistic regime. To do this he must bring Uncle Sam to its knees and to its death. This as we learned through history translates into brutal totalitarianism. Fallen man cannot make heaven on earth but only hell be he black , white, brown, red, yellow, olive or purple with green stripes. Remember Stalin, Hitler and Pol Pot.Â
Our hope is alone in God in Christ to establish His kingdom in righteousness which He will do. Maranatha!