1) I think that last line is very powerful, not at all craven. In a lackluster speech that is a powerful image of the change that has to come about.

2) This is about as inane-but-politically-necessary as Bush's "religion of peace" shtick - and Bush did not seem to have any illusions.

It's very interesting that the MSM is quoting the "mutual respect" part and leaving off the "unclench your fist" part.

I'll eschew any comment on the inaugural address and the horrendous insult delivered to white people by the "benediction." Instead I'll just say that the "poem" was GAWD awful. I thought Maya Angalou's was bad at the Clinton swearing in but yesterday's "effort" demonstrated that hers was at least a poem.
That was not poetry. It was a laundry list read by someone who clearly has no understanding of the rhythm of poetry. Pfahw! Dry as dust. Hideous.

It is quite refreshing to hear him talking about unbelievers. It is a solid departure to the stance of Dubya who believed that Atheists can't be patriotic.

I have some serious doubts toward Obama. The inaugural text dint gave me any motive to trust him more. The text is clearly calling for dialogue and unity but little more. This is, for me, simply following his campaign' coattails of "Hope" and "Change"; too much candy-talk for my mind.

I am waiting for him to be tested. I am sure that the following months will help us to get a clear image of the next for years under Obama's presidency. In example, sooner or later he will have to take a stand toward Hamas's aggression of Israel sooner or later. When he will do so, it will bring me a better image of his policies.

"Something for everyone" is a good way to put it. Not that I didn't appreciate the bone thrown to non-believers. He covered all the bases in his speech, eloquently enough. Now I'm nervously watching as we finally get to see who Obama the President IS, beyond his pretty words and image.

Ignored the poem. Music was very nice though.

I've been choking on the line "security emanates from the justice of our cause" - really? Tell that to the millions killed by Stalin, or those marched into the ovens or a mulitude of scenarios where those who were quite just got MURDERED! 4 more years, UGH!

Great form. As to actual substance ...

I just read the poem, and quite frankly I expect better of a Yale university professer.

Parts of it were good, the middle though was a scizophrenic mess bouncing back on forth

I liked the part where the Chief Justice and the Prez swapped mistakes on the oath -- and then Roberts ad-libbed "So help you God?" at the end, as if he were questioning Obama's faith.

Classy.

Add that to the insulting benediction (yo, whitey, it still ain't enough) -- I can see why Obama's got a tough road ahead. Both sides are out to set him up for a fall.

Someone once said of Spielberg that he wants to make films that people enjoy, an approach that offends artistes. One gets the sense that he wants to get along with people, which presumably rankles ideologues. Obama sounded a lot conservative --almost Reaganish-- themes. (Global warm got a single five-word mention: More than it deserves, but still.) Here's a direct lift from Kaus in DC on the morning of the inaugural:

| Conservatives I've met in D.C.
| so far have been near-ebullient,
| not downcast or bitter. Why?
| a) They know how unhappy they'd
| be now if McCain had won;
| b) Obama has not fulfilled their
| worst fears, or even second-
| to-worst fears; c) now they
| can be an honest, straight-up
| opposition. .... 8:37 A.M

On an afterthought, I wonder; Do the Black-American people still have an excuse to whine about racism or against "The Man" that keep them down? As witness, the words of Martin Luther King:

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."

Do the Race-Card is, at last, maxed out?

Thank you Amy for the last post. You have answered my question; looks like there's still some credit left on the Race-Card...

Very inspiring speech! We watched it in our boardroom at work. Finally a very intelligent leader. It makes us to the north a bit more relaxed.

I noticed the non-believers bit, and was very impressed, as I am a godless heathen, and sick and tired of being burned at the stake.

I'm glad he mentioned how much work it's going to be for everyone to fix the mess the US is in, and how everyone will have to change their way of living. He's not Santa Claus.

"I only wish people gave a bit as much thought to the kids they squeeze out into the world"

Oh, but they do. Take 2 functionally illiterate teenage black girls living next door to each other in East LA. If LaToya has 1 kid with 1 man & marries him, while ShoShanna has 5 kids with 5 different men, then ShoShanna knows she will get 5 times as much in welfare, housing assistance, & childcare payments from Uncle Sam. The biggest reason why girls in ghettos keep popping out fatherless kids is because they're paid to do it by you & every other taxpayer.

No white President, however well-meaning, can tackle America's worst social problem (the pathology of the black underclass) head-on. One reason why conservatives & libertarians are mustering up enthusiasm for President Obama must be because they believe, in the spirit of "Nixon goes to China", that he can take the bold steps necessary to do something about it. But that would mean that Obama & everyone around him would have to stop whining about whitey now that a black man is in the back of Air Force 1, instead of the back of the bus.

Martin - he's already been derided as not "black enough" and not "authentic".

He can't do anything to remedy the situation either. They'll just accuse him of pandering to whitey.

So much for him being a uniter. He left out Wiccans, Scientologists, agnostics, animists, SubGeniuses, that weird Hollywood-Madonna kabala cult, Cthulhu-ists, and other assorted Kool-Aid drinkers.

Yee gods. I am so glad I took a media-vacay day and watched none of that crap. That portion of the benediction quoted above alone was enough to make me puke.

At LEAST he said they have to unclench their fist-I did not hear that quoted by anybody yesterday, and it shows just a tad of sense. A tad, mind you. There is and can be no mutual respect with people who are dedicated to eradicating you, and why so many people don't get that is beyond me.

I got some nasty, get-to-the-back-of-the-bus treatment from some blacks yesterday. Lovely. I imagine we can expect that to continue. Cause no, they're not going to be striving for greatness all of a sudden. They are just going to see a black president as validation of the way they live.

Ofcourse hes not authentic. His success wanst based on telling black peopl why whity was the problem like Sharpton

Here's a site where you can keep track of how honest your favorite politicians are being.

http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/

They've got a list of Obama's promises, and whether they've been kept, are in the works, are stalled, or have not been kept.

Seriously - really thoughtful responses here from those who listened yesterday, more so because they're not from the amen corner.

Yeah,

Obama has a handle on that Islam thing, all right, ...

http://frontpagemagazine.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID=91FE16A6-5394-4855-905A-7FB24FBDCF7B

... Barack Obama isn’t wasting any time making an impression: he has selected the leader of a group that has been named an unindicted co-conspirator in a Hamas terror funding case to present a prayer during his inauguration festivities. Ingrid Mattson, president of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), will offer a prayer at the National Cathedral Tuesday ...

> they're not from the amen corner.

Watched it with three secretaries in the company conference room yesterday. At the end I turned and asked "Rating, scale of one to ten?"

"Ten!"

"Ten!"

"Ten!"

They didn't seem like the types who listen to a lot of speeches. But I'd been thinking it was a six, but left the room thinking it must been a seven or eight.

Amy, you are as big a bigot as any fundie. You just wrote off half the planet with your blithe and dismissive "Islamic world is entirely violent, illiterate, and ignorant" - and of course on your own blog, you can easily skewer anyone who suggests otherwise and get all the regulars to chime right in. How very brave and respectful you are!

I'd like to see a televised debate between you and Ann Coulter, since both of you enjoy making grand sweeping statements to your own personal choir of cheerleaders, and you both fall back on personal attacks when questioned about your views.

Atheist Fundamentalist vs Christian Bully!

What are you waiting for?

>Posted by: Flaming Idiot

It makes so much sense...

Oh, and the "regulars" here are hardly yes people. They chime in loud and clear when they think I'm wrong on something.

I'd like to add that anyone using the handle Flaming Idiot is really asking for remarks.

Does anyone honestly think that pulling out and ignoring the Muslim world is really going work? I find it doesn't work too well with women, so, i'm just guessing it won't work well with religion.

"You just wrote off half the planet with your blithe and dismissive "Islamic world is entirely violent, illiterate, and ignorant"

What an ignorant shit. Half the world? So there are no 1B Hindus, no 1.3B Chinese. Speaking of the Chinese, they seem to have a handle on how to deal with insuboordinate Muslms. They re-eduate them to death.

Does anyone honestly think that pulling out and ignoring the Muslim world is really going work?

No, it will be by withdrawing our economical and technical support that we will force them to calm down or vanish back to their caves.

Let's look at the economic system in the Middle-East countries. They have only one export: Crude Oil. If you have noticed lately, the price is at an all-time low. The Arab countries have lost 2.3 TRILLIONS of dollars in the last 3 months and the need for fuel in 2009 is estimated at a level lower than last year.

With their wings economically clipped, how do you think that Iran and the Saudi princes will finance terrorism and wahabism? I even wonder with what money they will rebuild Gaza (Read: Rearm Hamas).

Another point: most of their Western technology is maintained by Western technicians. With the money of Oil leaving, technology will leave too.

Of course, this is for the next 2-3 years. We can safely dream to the day when a switch to nuclear will be done and electricity will be used for cars. At that moment, the Middle-East will return to sand and we will really move away.

Amy,

You hit on an interesting point that I have, so far, yet to see any debate on: why does the black community and its leadership continue to fail to address the great consequences of single motherhood, the lack of drive to become educated, the glorification of the thug lifestyle, and the inability to save money?

With Barack Obama as president, there should be no more excuses. One cannot say "they're still being held down" when the road to success, that is, dedication and focus towards education, is proven to work. My hope is that this will energize a generation to succeed on thier own, but I'm a cynical person and have the greatest of doubts. And I have greater doubts that any black leader will ever point out that what much of the black community embraces is exactly the opposite of what Obama embraces.

One final point: does not anyone see the irony in Lowery admonishing different people of different skin colour, when MLK Jr. himself said we should only look to the content (and presumably merit) of one's character rather than the colour of one's skin?

Obama did give a good speech, just nothing memorable. It could have been a grand slam, but i guess a solo home run is never bad.

it may be true that 80% of muslims are illiterate but i think you would have to take socioeconomic status into account. Most of the 80% live in the 3rd world where basic need may be more of a priority. If you compared literacy rates of Muslims vs other religious groups in Canada or US i think they'd all be a long the same lines. High SES = high literacy, low SES = low literacy. Even a study in the US would need to take SES into account.

and i thought his speech was good, but i his race speech was more powerful

Toubrouk

I dont think we are in a position to judge economic systems. Our is currently in the crapper. And we dont make anything - oh sorry - i forgot about our amazing auto industry.

Jamison,

I think we are in a good position to judge economic models. First, there's a clear margin between "CrappY" and "CrappIER" systems. Our current system is diversified. Some sectors are taking a huge hit right now while others are flourishing. We have qualified workers in vastly different fields.

On the other side, the Middle-East have a one-trick economy; Crude Oil. I have yet to see an airplane, a computer or any piece of mechanic needing more than 1000 distinct pieces to work coming out of an Arab country. What about Art? What was the last time you have heard of a world-caliber Arab artist? What about research centers? Where are they?

They are making money by selling crude oil. We are making money by creating new products they are buying with their petro-dollars. Now tell me; who is the leader here?

You're right, the bankruptcy lawyers are making a killing right now. And art is not going to fix our economy (but FYI Zaha Hadid - just saw her exhibit amazing)

and Dubai is not a one trick economy - but its crappy now too.

and while our system is "diversified" im not about to talk smack about others while ours is in shambles bc i believe people who live in glass houses should not throw stones.

Also i think this is the beginning of a long ugly ride. And FYI who do you think the gentiles are blaming.

always the optimist,
jamison

Obama mentioned "dissent". So did the Denver Post's David Harsanyi here: Is Dissent Still Patriotic?

"I have, so far, yet to see any debate on: why does the black community and its leadership continue to fail to address the great consequences of single motherhood, the lack of drive to become educated, the glorification of the thug lifestyle, and the inability to save money?"

Because there is no need to debate the obvious: it is always easier to blame your problems on someone else that to take responsibility for them yourself.

If the black leadership said "yo, get off your butt" the black community would just choose different leadership that validates its current lifestyle.

Jamison,

I dully believe that the future of this world is in the hands of the producers; those who make something out of nothing. Unlike those who merely sells the stuff they pumped out of the ground, our capacity to generate wealth is only limited by our minds. This is why we will go through this fog and exit in a far better shape than the nations of the Middle-East.

Bradley13,

Your words ring true to me. I am ready to bet an old 5$ bill with you that Obama will be called "Uncle Tom" by some race hustler before the end of this year. Some people never change (This includes leeches).

Would the black world or the islamic world or the asiatic world be more civilised in the near future? This diversity thing have proven to be more of a nuisance than of anything really beneficial.

many of the third world people/nations seems to be more interested in controlling other people wealth (that don't belong to them, that they or their forefathers never work for) than the liberty of a hard working freedom loving individual.

I disagree about the poor and countryless part since most of my jewish friends are old money. And when the jews were poor and countryless that were just trying to survive.

And to be touting the 80% thing is very Dateline. "70% of people will get stampeded by elephants! watch at 11!" yet they dont mention that you have to be in its cage poking it with a stick!

So most likely muslim, jews and christians have the same literacy rate in the US and Canada when taking SES into account.

And those countries count on their people being kept uneducated and down - they are not democratically elected they are despots... who we stupidly enough - helped get there> And the girls going to school? Were they not muslim as well? The difference is the guys who threw the acid are muslims and nut jobs...

And there are a lot of muslims out there...so if most wanted wreak havoc our world would be a very different place...

I think jameson wears a burka. No, we do not have the same illiteracy rates as muslims. Not even our poorest do. Muslims do not value education. For anyone. Even the poorest kids-even muslim kids-in the US and canada get sent to school. Not always the best schools, but at least they have a chance.

The idiots in gaza had an election, and look who they elected. Democracy would make no difference for muslims. The moderates that people swear are so numerous keep pretty damn silent, during elections and always. It's almost like they don't exist.

> it may be true that 80% of muslims
> are illiterate but i think you
> would have to take socioeconomic
> status into account

I'm not sure you're putting to cart before the horse, but it's like you're asking the whole contraption to shimmy sideways. The nature of both the horse and the wheel are against you. The point is that literacy improves economic opportunity, not that wealth brings you a lifetime of pleasant reading.

There's, what?, about a billion muslims in the world. Must be some clever and worldly people on here to be able to speak so generally. I look forward to upcoming installments "things you can be sure of about tall people" and "brazil - south america's homogeneous giant".

Anybody ever, say, been to a muslim country (not changing planes in Istanbul)?

Thing about tall people the hit their heads on stuff

Does that make me at 6'3" a self hating tallie bigot?

Anybody ever, say, been to a muslim country (not changing planes in Istanbul)?

Nope. Never ate dog feces neither.

Then I'm equally likely to value your perspective on both issues.

So, what you are telling me, Scott, that I don't know the delicious taste and nutritional value of doggie poopoo until I ate a bowl of it? Why can't I use my judgement to figure out that this is not a good idea?

after reading this 80% stat i went looking for it and i couldnt find it. I actually found a UN study that put most of those countries in the 70-80 literacy category. And I was only looking at reputable sources so...

Jamison - i agree with you. when people report stats they should qualify them. i will certainly not be poking elephants in enclosed spaces:)

I have a hard time believing that any of you actually know what the Quran teaches based on the generalizations made in your comments. This includes you, Amy. Try this book, see what you think.

Reconciliation: Islam, Democracy, and the West
by Benazir Bhutto

You could stand to learn from it. I found it inspirational. Considering I usually stay away from all things dealing with religion, it was pretty impressive.

Fat lot of good it did her.

She was shot to death by a muslim for being an apostate.

If you want to convince someone they are wrong, you might want to provide examples that don't prove them right.

I was also astounded and happy to hear the word nonbelievers!

i think you should talk an islamic studies class at your local university instead of constantly reverting to dubious websites for your info.
but since you seem to enjoy them, here you go..

http://www.davidduke.com/general/christian-evangelists-or-jewish-evangelists_498.html

Islamic Studies? Is that like Women's Studies?

You know, all about how white Christian men are evil bastards that need to be destroyed?

Oh, and David Duke can lick my asshole if he thinks I'll ever take him seriously. I mean, really. He makes Pat Buchanan look respectable, and Ron Paul look sane.

nope, housemates. Your blog entries have become a hot topic around here - not because any of us agree with you but we cant believe people with these opinions really exist. I mean, i know they exist but thought they were relegated to Deliverance-esque areas.
Oh well, have fun. cue banjo music.

"cue banjo music."

I get it! "Agree with me or you're a racist hillbilly!"

Ha. And people say I'm thick.