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For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter’s courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent’s willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.
Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends - hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility - a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.
This is the price and the promise of citizenship.
This is the source of our confidence - the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.
This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed - why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.
And with these words, Barack Hussein Obama became the 44th President of the United States. We'll be back with more tomorrow including further reflection on Obama's swearing in.
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Wow, either Marcus has a really great camera or he had really great seats, meaning Chicagoist has more pull than I thought.
Sweet pics! Sweet spot! Bet you never imagined you'd be doing this!
Chicagoist has pull because Chicagoist has a tirelessly awesome editor. Kudos, Marcus...you deserve it.
Wow! Nice pics, Marcus!
...
How in the world did you get such a good Seat?!?!
Great Photos!
Thanks to the Senate Press Gallery
Lord,Marcus, how much did you slip Blagojevich for those seats? How about Burris? Daley? Man, those seats are frakking valuable things.
Awesome shots, by the way. Great job.
Thanks. I got this thing and I'm f'n golden.
WOW, Marcus!!! I didn't know you took such AWESOME pictures in addition to being an AWESOME writer. I'm so very proud of you, and jealous too. I would have loved to have been in DC for this historic moment. Never thought I would see this day come, but here we are. The mood of the country has changed, somewhat like it was when JFK and Martin Luther King were around, but you're too young to know about that. Obama has given us hope and a promise that things ARE going to change, and you're very fortunate to be a part of all this.
Again, I'm so VERY proud of you!!! From your "older Sis" here in Huntsville, AL.
Nance :)
Thanks, Nance!
Well I am glad you took a pic of the crowd. Had you panned down to the base of the Washington monument, maybe just maybe, you would have seen Duck =)
Wait...Duck was that far back?
I am a realist. I figured aim for the middle. Atleast then I am still closer than 50% of the people there. Besides, I am 5'6", what better place than perched on a little hill?