FanPost

Off Topic: Obama's Inauguration

It's been a pretty amazing morning, and no matter your politics, you have to be moved by the significance of this moment in our nation's history. Truly astounding that we have come so far. 

I personally thought Obama was up to the task; he was really grounded, and delivered a knockout of a speech that recognized the enormity of the task at hand and asked all Americans to be ready to meet its challenge, while paying homage to the forefathers who brought us to this day, and speaking directly to the world community about America's place in the world. My favorite line: "To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history, but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist." 

As I was watching, one interesting thought occurred to me about the march of technology and the lasting effect it may have with respect to this day, and that is this:

While we are used to an orderly transfer of power in this country, it is still an unheard-of occurrence in many, many dark corners of the world. Oppressed peoples are used to being told by their leaders that the US is a corrupt society, that we are decadent philistines, that we are somehow beholden to our wicked leaders. Past inaugural coverage, if ever even seen by these people, would have been tightly controlled by state television organizations, which would no doubt have edited it to suit their agendas.

The last time power was transferred in this country, eight years ago, YouTube did not exist. Video on the internet was barely accessible. Hard to believe, but the internet itself was but an infant version of its current incarnation. In 2000, I was still connecting to teh interwebz with a dialup modem. 

Imagine then, what will happen, as hundreds of millions of people around the world, for the very first time, see unedited versions of today's events; one leader, elected by the people, passing a torch to another, in front of literally millions of free citizens in a peaceful and respectful ceremony.

Imagine the translated words of Senator Feinstein:

 

The freedom of a people to choose its leaders is the root of liberty. In a world where political strife is too often settled with violence, we come here every four years to bestow the power of the presidency upon our democratically elected leader. Those who doubt the supremacy of the ballot over the bullet can never diminish the power engendered by nonviolent struggles for justice and equality, like the one that made this day possible. No triumph tainted by brutality could ever match the sweet victory of this hour and what it means to those who marched and died to make it a reality.

 

...followed by those of President Obama himself:

 

And for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that, "Our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken. You cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you." 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 nonbelievers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth.

 

Imagine.

Yes, of course, oppressors in power will try to doctor the footage and change the words and shape the message to try to advance their own goals. But the undoctored versions of this history will make their rounds, and folks from around the world who have been kept in the dark will see them sooner or later.  

It's truly astounding to think how this one day alone, and the raw, unbiased record of it, may change the world dynamic. In the same way that television played its role in the advance of the civil rights movement, showing America for the very first time what atrocities were happening in the corners of our country, so too may online video play a role in shaping the minds of those who are ignorant of what it means to be a free people. 

Anyway, I'm a little emotional and immensely proud of all of us. I'm curious to hear other thoughts, whatever they may be.....

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