January 20, 2009. The bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth. It seems appropriate that another Illinois resident, in particular one with African-Ameican heritage, has become President in this historic year.
Much is in need of doing. In his speech, President Obama said "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." He called upon us all to pitch in to do our part to find solutions to those challenges. To put behind the politics of the small, to embrace a new way of thinking...thinking that seeks solutions for the good of all Americans, not just the like-minded few.
Regarding the role of science in policy, he said "We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do."
The politics he professes, and we all must ensure, is "What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them — that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works — whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account — to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day — because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government."
Best wishes, President Obama. May we all reach the heights to which you believe we can soar.
Much is in need of doing. In his speech, President Obama said "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." He called upon us all to pitch in to do our part to find solutions to those challenges. To put behind the politics of the small, to embrace a new way of thinking...thinking that seeks solutions for the good of all Americans, not just the like-minded few.
Regarding the role of science in policy, he said "We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do."
The politics he professes, and we all must ensure, is "What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them — that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works — whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account — to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day — because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government."
Best wishes, President Obama. May we all reach the heights to which you believe we can soar.
A nice summary. I remember those words from his speech, as well as his expression and tone when he delivered them.
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