Patriotic Spirit

I have not written anything today about the upcoming inaugural festivities or about how proud I am that we are about to inaugurate Barack Obama as our 44th president until now. There is no way I can find my own words to express how patriotic I feel and how patriotic most Americans feel at this deeply significant moment in our history.

We have seen the word "Change" over & over and perhaps have wondered how this change will manifest itself. Tonight I saw Maya Angelou speak on BBC World News. One of the things which she said stood out for me and that was that each of us needs to be involved, to participate, to effect change.

Then I happened on the article by Robert Creamer in The Huffington Post (link below) that spoke to me very simply. He states 4 reasons for the significance of this inaugural event:

1. Obama and his call to service -- to commitment -- has touched our most fundamental self interest -- our desire for meaning.
2. Obama -- his campaign and his transition - have been unequivocal in their willingness to hold up and unapologetically celebrate the principles that lie at the heart of traditional progressive American values: unity not division; hope and optimism not fear and cynicism; tolerance not prejudice; that it's the right thing to help your neighbor not just yourself; that we're all in this together -- not all in this alone.
3. The new patriotism results from relief. Americans are relieved that they once again can be proud of the way their government acts in the world.
4. The election of Obama makes us proud of ourselves. We are proud that we have elected the first African American president.

Take a few minutes to connect to the article below. Perhaps it will speak to you as it did to me. This will be a new day of pride for the American people. I know I am going to hold my head and my flag high in honor of all those who have worked throughout the years to make this happen.

Political organizer and strategist

Posted January 19, 2009 | 11:40 AM (EST)
by Robert Creamer

A Surprise for the Right: Obama's Election Has Caused a Patriotic Spirit to Sweep America