inauguration day

Today was a big day.

I will admit, I am not "into" politics, and I don't know as much as I should. With that being said, I did educate myself before the election, and I voted. I voted for Barack Obama. I don't agree with everything he said or everything he plans to do, but I felt the same about the other side. The country desperately needed something different, and I feel we have it now. Clearly, I'm not the only one who feels the same way. We may be right or we may be wrong, but it's up to him to prove if he can do what he says he can do. Actually, I guess it's up to all of us to see if we can do what he says we can do.

I had Critical Care class during the swearing in and presidential address, but thankfully our teacher pulled up the video feed and had it running on the screen in the background. When it got close to noon, he stopped class and let us watch. Like I said, I may not know politics, but I know history in the making when I see it. It was a beautiful moment. He is a powerful speaker, and radiates a determination and confidence which we haven't seen in some time.

Congratulations, Mr. President.
Time to show us what you've got.

"Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many.

They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America - they will be met. On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted - for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things - some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom."

"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."

"America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations."

-President Barack Obama