Posts Tagged “American Optimism”

I don’t consider myself a political person.

Today I woke up the same time as any other day: noon. I grabbed my two boys, my parrotlets Ernie and Louie, and ventured downstairs. Once in the TV room, where their food and water is, I noticed the DVR was recording. Somewhat groggy still, I wondered what the hell my girlfriend was recording now, fearing that her scheduled recordings of Run’s House were getting out of hand.

I turned on the TV and was immediately reminded that it was Inauguration Day.

I took a seat and listened to our freshly minted President orate, amazed by the scene surrounding the Mall. I was reminded of the swath King, among many others, had cut, and of the power and possibility of the spoken word. I was given pause when I was asked to consider giving up some of my hours at work to help someone else whose hours was being cut. I wondered how I could do that.

I was also thrilled to hear my religious denomination—non-believer—included in this particular Address.

When our new President finished, I smiled.

Like the many others who fled the Mall then, I went into the next room to fill my boys’ bowls. I was standing by the refrigerator when, inexplicably, I started to weep. I was overwhelmed by, not just the long shadow of slavery and inequality and cruelty to men and women, but also by an almost alien pride. Yes, for the first time in a long, long time, I was just so goddamn proud of my country. And filled with something approaching optimism.

I stood in the open refrigerator door holding a bottle of mineral water in my hand, thinking: OK, ladies and gentlemen, we got a good thing going here, let’s not fuck it up….