At 10:06 MST, Barack Obama became our new president. I don’t usually check the clock when important things happen, but I did this morning. My overwhelming impression, watching the crowds in DC? America’s finally coming to after an eight-year stupor. Have you ever seen such an outpouring of optimism and goodwill?
Now we wait to hear what the pundits have to say. I wonder how long it’ll be before they get to this line from Obama’s inaugural speech: “We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers.” I don’t think any important political figure — never mind a president — has ever before acknowledged non-believers. Yeah, I’m one of many. I’m happy he knows we’re Americans too. Change? I’m starting to believe. And I too am optimistic and filled with goodwill this morning.
By the way, Aretha? You truly light up our lives!
Not to end on a downer and get all rabble-rouser on our new president or anything, but the stock traders who panicked on Wall Street today? Isn’t it about time we round up these un-American traitors and send them to Afghanistan?
Update (Jan 26, 2009): I’m won’t get all linky, but from what I’ve seen and read, the pundits are more interested in Obama’s inclusion of Muslims than his inclusion of non-believers. I’m interested in that too, and wonder why Obama didn’t rank these groups based on numbers, and why he left some groups out. Had he done his research, his statement would have come out like this: “We are a nation of Christians and non-believers, Jews and Muslims, Buddhists and Hindus — and witches.” What, you think I’m making this up?
I, too, was pleased to hear that. I think this is a very positive development for us!
There’s a lot of reaction to the statement in the blogs, some in the news (I ran Google news and blog searches on “and non-believers”). Haven’t seen much on TV or heard anything about it on the radio, but I haven’t been paying too much attention to either.