The Price and Promise of Citizenship

So the day is finally here. Today was the inauguration of President Barack Obama. It is a day that I have expected and been waiting for since he first spoke at the Democratic National Convention in 2004. He was everything that I hoped, and his speech was incredible. I don't really know what to say about it (it is for greater men than me to critique it). I will say that there will be a day in the future that I get to bring my children to DC and to a new monument that reads the following passage from the speech:

As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment -- a moment that will define a generation -- it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.
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.

I will say that I am grateful for my company. They provided us with an hour of time today to take part in the ceremony in our break room. There were no less than 50 people there, from all walks of life, and you could tell that every single one of them was inspired.

That is the biggest difference. I have now voted in three presidential elections. All three times I voted on the issues, and not based on parties. I have been alive for 8 inaugurations (though I really only remember 5 of them). This one appears to be the first one that was actually inspirational for the vast majority of the people in the country. He truly seems to have created a sense of Camelot that I imagine was what people felt in 1960 when Kennedy was elected. I have high hopes for him and the change that he promises to bring, and I plan on doing my part.

Congrats to you and your family, and godspeed.

Obituary: My Faith in Humanity – Oct. 2nd, 1979-Jan. 19th, 2009

What was once a bright shining beacon in the life of Tim Gordon, has suffered its final insult, and in so doing has withered and died today. Tim’s Faith in Humanity (FiH) was a stalwart and driving force in his life for a huge portion of his life, but it first started to show signs of failing during the release of the reality TV series Temptation Island. Tim’s FiH was unsure how to deal with such a horrible offering on television, and started to crack and give way to the idea that maybe humanity wasn’t inherently good, but was, in fact, a slave to marketing. But his FiH was renewed with vigor after the show was cancelled after a disappointing 2nd season. Tim’s FiH suffered several other indignities along the way (see Rock of Love, Intervention, anything starring David Caruso), but it was once again strong this past week, and believed to be thriving as we entered 2009 with the act of courage and bravery shown by Capt. Sully of US Airways flight 1549. But the turnaround was short lived, as Tim’s FiH was found dead this morning at his desk at InfoMart, an apparent victim of a shock induced heart-attack. The shock appears to have been caused by the news that the #1 movie this weekend was Paul Blart: Mall Cop. Tim’s FiH is survived by his Jaded Viewpoint of American Film Taste (JVAFT) and his Superiority in Entertainment Complex (SEC). There will be no service held, but please keep Humanity in your thoughts and prayers, they apparently need it.