I was home with a sick kid today so I watched the Inaguration in all its splendor. Some observations:
- Several of the speakers, including the President, think that "one nation under G-d" was written by our founding fathers. My understanding is that the "under G-d" part was added in 1954, long after our founding fathers had founded.
- Overall I was disappointed to hear George W suggest that he was doing G-d's work in bringing freedom to the heathens. Well he didn't call them heathens actually, but I think he meant to.
- Is the loss of a single American soldier worth having "democratic" elections in Iraq? I think not, but then I seem to be in a minority.
- Judge Rehnquist showed amazing strength given his health troubles. I wish him a speedy recovery, and I worry about whom might be appointed after him.
- The guy who sang the National Anthem was awesome. Bill Clinton was singing it full voice. George W. Bush looked like he didn't remmber the words.
- Barbara Bush was my favorite -- she was taking pictures with a little camera like a Mom would use to photograph her son's speech in school.
- The band was great. I liked "Eternal Father" and of course "Stars and Stripes Forever".
An observation: given the tone of the inaguration, shouldn't the title of this post also be "False Messiah?"
My mandolin teacher and I spent 20 minutes yesterday talking about the inaguration during my lesson. Outside the window of our classroom hundreds of people were protesting the inaguration outside of city hall. I remember four years ago asking myself "how much damage could Bush really do in four years?" and not worrying. Now I worry.
Posted by: Chris at January 21, 2005 9:19 AM
Count me in as someone who doesn't feel what we are in Iraq is worth any loss of life, especially American lives.
Posted by: Mike at January 21, 2005 12:00 PM
I think John Stewart said it best on The Daily Show. He said as George Bush solemnly swore during the oath of office, 49% of America also solemnly swore.
Posted by: Dana at January 24, 2005 1:05 PM
I think democracy is one of the few concepts worth dying for. I just don't think what we're doing in Iraq comes anywhere close to it.
Posted by: Rachel at January 25, 2005 3:35 PM