Transcript of Barack Obama’s Inagural Address

november-4-2008

Watched/listened to Barack Obama’s inaugural address today. You can read the entire text here or here.

I thought it was a good speech. Reading back over I liked it even more. Don’t think it was Obama’s greatest speech, but a great speech for the moment.

Here’s what stood out to me during the speech ::

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.

For everywhere we look, there is work to be done.

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.

Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.

We are the keepers of this legacy.

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus – and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world’s resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.

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.

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.

What about you? What did you like or dislike?

Jeff Brady in Brad Hawkins out at WFAA Channel 8’s Daybreak

jbrady_n
Jeff Brady

Jeff Brady is taking over for Brad Hawkins now on WFAA’s Daybreak.


Brad Hawkins

Brad Hawkins has left Daybreak for “corporate America” and former 5 p.m. anchor, Jeff Brady is taking his slot alongside Cynthia Izaguirre “for the time being.”

Hawkins posted a video blog on WFAA explaining the switch and seemed to really put an emphasis on “this is not permanent.” Sounded like perhaps he’s not too happy with the switch.

Been a crazy 12 months for the Daybreak team. First was the change of bringing in Izaguirre, next was the departure of Justin Farmer, who was replaced by Brad Hawkins, and now Hawkin’s departure. Will be interesting to see what happens next.

It’ll also be interesting to see what kind of reaction this gets – the original announcement about Justin Farmer remains one of the #1 blog posts on my site. Crazy!

Brady Media Group

UPDATE (11/13/09): Jeff Brady has left WFAA as well. As of March 12, 2009, he left the station to start his own new media/PR consulting company – Brady Media Group.

In a Tweet from June 27, he suggests that folks aren’t interested in “appointment TV” anymore. We don’t rush home to watch the news at 5,6 and 10 anymore. He’s right – probably why I hadn’t noticed he was no longer with the station.

From his site:

My name is Jeff L. Brady. I’m the CEO of a new media advocacy agency called the Brady Media Group. We are journalists, photographers, creative digital architects and – in the end – professional storytellers. We have not formed an ad agency, production house or a traditional PR firm. We approach commercial marketing from several new directions. All focused on authentic, value-driven media content. All of them focused on the future.

So good luck to Jeff and his new venture! Hopefully he’ll start Tweeting again as he continues on this new journey.

something beautiful advent christmas extravaganza

You’ve mailed all your Christmas cards, you’re wrapping the last of the gifts and you’re tired of all the Christmas re-runs on TV?

Well have no fear, the something beautiful podcast advent christmas extravaganza is here!

The podcast went live mid-day today (half a day early) and already it’s had 44 downloads! It may be a record setter. We also posted a special “bonus” episode for material that didn’t quite fit with the rest of the extravaganza (23 downloads of that episode already – totaling 67 downloads in one day – I KNOW that’s a record).

Anyways, head on over to the something beautiful podcast and download the Christmas joy. And have yourself a Merry little Advent and Christmas.

Sabatage

I tried posting this on Facebook but I was blocked for some reason… crazy – never got any warnings from them before.

GAME RULES:

1. Put your music player on shuffle (ALL MUSIC).
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!
4. Tag 10 friends who might enjoy doing the game as well as the person you got the game from.

IF SOMEONE SAYS “IS THIS OK” YOU SAY:
War Driving

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
10,000 Children

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
Wake Up

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
So Long, Marianne

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Beautiful

WHAT IS 2 + 2?
Amen, Amen

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Burning Love

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
I Will Never See the Sun

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Heaven’s Son

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Blessed

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
I Hear Your Voice

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
I’ve Got You

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Gone (New Mix)

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Angels

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Brainfreeze

WHAT’S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
The Other Side

HOW WILL YOU DIE?
Tips for Sweet-Talking a Caribou

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
Everybody’s Singing Now

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Why Don’t You Smile

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
Be Coo Mix

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
I am Free

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
Say it Right and F the World

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
I Walk the Line

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
Give My Love to Rose

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
Sabatage

I’m too lazy to link to folks on the blog … but I tag Laurie, Dollye, Chris Allman, Trucker Frank, Thomas, Olwyn, Johny Laird, Tim Ellcey, Kara, Sara, B and for the heck of it — Shaun Groves.

Shane Claiborne on Buy Nothing Day & Black Friday

Shane Claiborne posted a guest blog entry on the Sojourner blog today and recapped his thoughts on Black Friday and Buy Nothing Day. Loved this story ::

I love the story of one pastor who got fed up with all the decorations and clutter. He began to see that we are in danger of losing the very “reason for the season,” Jesus — the Jesus that was born in the middle of Herod’s bloody genocide, the Jesus who was born a refugee with no room in the inn, the Jesus who knew suffering from the cradle to the cross. This pastor went through the sanctuary the night before the big Christmas service and spread out manure all over the floor — nasty, stinky piles of turd. As folks came in the next day in their best attire, he preached — and did he ever. He preached about how the original story of was not about malls and decorations. He preached about a story that was not pretty. He preached about a God who enters the s**t of this world and redeems all that is ugly and broken. It is a story they will never forget. It is the story of our faith.

Here’s a video from Buy Nothing Day events in Philly – posted by our friend Jamie Moffett – (look for Shane on stilts) ::


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