Aides to Barack Obama have begun to speak about what the president-elect has chosen as the theme for his inaugural address - Responsibility.
From the Washington Post :
Obama will talk about restoring a sense of responsibility in the country, (Obama press secretary Robert Gibbs) said, conveying his belief that “we need more responsibility and accountability, certainly, in the way our government acts.”
“We have to have it, certainly, within many of our financial institutions that sort of have gotten us to where we are in this economic crisis today,” Gibbs said on “Fox News Sunday.” “Obviously, the American people are going to have to give some.”
That’s always easier said than done, but its a much more sobering tone than previous inaugurals. Remember George H.W. Bush’s “new breeze?” Or Bill Clinton’s “dawn?” I like it. It says this is not a time to simply celebrate and move on, but a chance to finally admit that we as Americans are at a historical juncture, and if we do not determine our own destiny by becoming more engaged with the community and nation at large, the future will be decided for us.
Beyond the speech’s theme, I’m hoping for originality from Obama. I cringe when I hear someone say “of the people, by the people or for the people” or utter “We the people” or make reference to a past speech. Those words are deeply embedded in our American culture and go to the heart of what is sacred about our form of self government. I respect that. But they have been overused by contemporary orators. We’ve heard them so many times our ears tend to pass over whenever they’re uttered during a speech, and then the speech becomes largely forgettable.
Abraham Lincoln delivered those poetic remarks about our government in 1863 during the dedication of a soldier’s cemetery, and Lincoln summed up succinctly why he was calling on men to sacrifice their homes, families and lives to save the union. I wish tomorrow to hear about original insight like that into the trials of our time by a leader of our time. Obama has that capacity. Too often today we hear speeches which refer back to history … but don’t make any history.
