I want to say, having been repeatedly critical of a tax deal that favored the ultra rich and did too little to reverse economic inequality and provide for the adequate and sustained funding of our government (which I still think did too little and am still critical of...) that I liked the President's 2nd inaugural address.
I thought it was a good speech, a liberal speech and set a hopeful note for the next four years.
I would also like to add this thought. When I refer to "Hope 2.0", I am not referring to President Barack Obama, though I certainly hope that he fulfills the as yet unfulfilled promise that led so many of us to support and embrace his campaign.
I'm referring to us...
I am hopeful that we kossacks can continue find joy, personal growth and even fun in fighting the progressive fight that we began to fight here online more than ten years ago, and that each of us will persevere in our efforts to make this a more progressive nation.
It is going to be a tough fight going forward.
And we are going to be tested.
But I would ask for each of us to take one second tonight and think about where we were when we came together in this ragtag community, before we were even known as the netroots or the blogosphere or kossacks...and where we stand now, today.
It is humbling, and hopeful.
We have reason to hope based on victories we have won and infrastructure that each of us has helped build, in ways large and small. But there is much more work to be done.
Obama gave a good speech this week. It's worth reading and rereading. But what's more important is what's happening in the grassroots, where we live, where we are.
There will be other good speeches to come.
All of us in this community, agree or disagree, understand that there is more work to do, more conversations to have, more victories to win. What we have done together has made a difference. But the work yet to do is vast and daunting.
Our challenge is to recapture the feelings that inspired us from the very beginning. We won't all agree all of the time. That's clear. What matters is where we are headed together.
"You and I, as citizens, have the power to set this country’s course. You and I, as citizens, have the obligation to shape the debates of our time -- not only with the votes we cast, but with the voices we lift in defense of our most ancient values and enduring ideals."
Spoken like a true
kossack.
:)