artykins

So I've re-affirmed my self-proclaimed whore-ish-ness today with the history surrounding the inauguration of Barack Obama.  I've been clear of any pre-inaugural stuff simply because we don't have a cable connection for the TV.  It's basically there, hooked up to our PS3, for movies and other DVDs.  But today, I was given the chance to watch a live stream of the ceremony at work.  It was amazing.  My boss actually paged me over the phone and asked if I was watching it, to which I replied 'No, but I'm thinking of pulling up a live feed within the next couple minutes' to which she responded 'Sounds good to me' and hung up.

Given that small blessing, I pulled up msnbc.com on my computer and tapped into the live stream.  I also set Linda up on her computer so she could watch it.  Thing is, my sound was on a two second delay behind hers, so I just muted my sound and listened to hers while looking at all the festivities on my own screen.

I have to say, I was weary about Obama when he accepted the party nomination.  Then again, I was weary of that Republican dude whose name everyone forgot the moment he gave his resignation speech after losing to Obama.  Cheney?  No, that's the guy in the wheel chair today.  The former vice-president.  You know.  Sarah Palin's running mate.  Yeah.  That guy.

I was wary of both parties simply because there didn't seem to be definite and clear answers to anything.  But then again, when debates (the life-blood of politics) turn into mud-slinging contests where each candidate tries to get a bigger barrel of dirt on the other guy, I lose all interest because at that point, dignity is lost and it's something that can't easily be regained.  That's right.  Lost forever.  And I usually get lost with it.  I just don't have time to listen to potential leaders...people who will affect my every day life with policies and decisions...point fingers at each other and say 'he's worse than I am and here's why.'

Yes, mistakes are made and will be made.  The American people hold presidential candidates to a standard that demands them to be perfect, to make all the right decisions.  That's a flaw in us.  Perfection is not something to be attained, nor is it something we should ever hope for.  We can't by nature grasp it, physically, mentally or spiritually.  We can certainly try, but it's not going to happen in our lives.  

That said, I don't think a presidential candidate should be held to an 'average' standard.  If you and I can pick up and reposition a heavy box, the president should be able to pick up and reposition a mountain.  He needs to be held to a higher standard.  That's an absolute truth.  He should be held to a higher standard and that's because he is in the public eye for his term.  His family is in the public eye for his term.  Sure, people are going to criticize, but to lash out just for the sake of having something to say about that criticism isn't and doesn't deserve the loftiness of the office of the president.  It just doesn't.

Again, that said, I found myself harboring a slight hope inside myself when Obama was sworn in.  He cares about what people think, but not to the extent of caring what Linda Wells, editor-in-chief of Allure magazine has to say about the first lady's dress.  Really?  Come on, Linda.  She's the first lady and as such wields some power which demands your respect.  Spend your day rating the Hollywood disasters no one cares about anymore.  I'm actually disgusted.

But back to the hope I found inside myself.  It was strange.  I've spent my life not knowing anything other than a Bush or a Clinton in office.  I was born under the administration of Bush Sr., was a girl/young lady when Clinton was in office and (sadly) spent my first presidential vote in a race between Bush Jr. and John Kerry.  Like there was much of a choice there, let alone reason to be excited about any prospects my future held.  But with Obama, I find myself perking up with the idea of change.  Change has indeed come and there's really no reason why it shouldn't.

It's an uphill battle Obama will have to face now.  It'll take two years (maybe longer) for him to undo the mess we're currently in, internationally, domestically, economically, etc.  By then, approval ratings will have dipped because he'll have 'wasted' two years getting nothing done and people don't seem to understand that in the White House, for every step we take forward, we often take two back in a different direction.

Still, I hope that he's effective as a president.  I hope and I pray that he'll be kept safe, that his wife and daughters will be kept safe, all of the hidden beneath the wing of God.  I hope he can administer policy and grapple with the hard questions that haven't been formed yet.  I hope he reforms education and turns public schools into palaces.  I hope he stabilizes the economy and creates jobs for the unemployed, healthcare for the sick and security for the elderly.  

I also hope he keeps his sights set on loftier things that what some editor-in-chief of some fashion magazine says about his wife's clothing.  Because when it comes right down to it, he may be annoyed and put off by criticism against his wife (as is his right, really), but at the end of the day, what Linda Wells has to say doesn't matter, especially when she's only one voice of millions.  The other voices need to be heard.

So I sat at my desk today, thinking of all of that.  Here's hoping, kids.