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What does it mean to have a front row seat? Is it an expression only meant literally or is there a metaphorical component? I didn't go to Washington. I didn't want to brave the crowds, the weather or the severe lack of port-a-potties (one for every 600 people!). Not to mention the fact that I didn't get an invitation – maybe because I voted for McCain.
But I still felt like I had a front row seat. Even though it was in front of my computer. A front row seat not just to history in the making (it's embarrassingly true; my husband and I could not stop crying), but a front row seat to something even more important: to the resurgence of hope.
Whatever our personal politics, this is a message we would all do well to heed. It was a tremendously moving inauguration. It had all the spectacle and pageantry of a great nation. And it signaled the inspiration of America's willingness to move -- in a relatively short span of time -- from a country with pervasive racism to electing a black president.
When the Almighty tells Abraham to leave everything familiar behind and set out on a journey into the unknown, He offers him reassurance. You will become a great nation, your name will be great, and "those who bless you will be blessed." Dennis Prager once suggested that the good in America is a direct result of this promise. He may be right. What I do know for sure is that there is good in this country.
There is a striving for meaning, for purpose. There is a striving for unity and caring. There is a striving for morality and a relationship with God. And it's moving and inspiring.
In challenging times -- whether for individuals or nations -- we tend to lose hope. We give in to dangerous cynicism or paralyzing despair. The election of the first black president of the United States has signaled a willingness and desire to lift ourselves out of our stale and unproductive state.
He tried to inspire us to hard work and purposeful effort. He tried to communicate that anything is possible -- with will and determination -- and the blessing of the Almighty.
It wasn't based on naive optimism, but on a realistic assessment of what this country is and what it could be.
And it was empowering. Sometimes individuals feel lost in the face of world forces. What can I do? How can I make a difference?
The inauguration reminded us that we all count, that everyone's actions matter. The Talmud teaches that everyone should say, "The world was created just for me." I am the one who is responsible.
And with responsibility comes hope -- and action.
I heard a story last night of a man who went to a prominent rabbi and bemoaned the fact that he had just lost 80 million dollars. "You had 80 million dollars," said the rabbi, "and there are Jews without food on their table or roofs over their heads."
We all have 80 million dollars -- in skills, abilities, passions, energy and ideals.
We have been complacent too long. We can all take our responsibilities more seriously and accomplish much more -- for America, for Israel, and for humanity.
It's good to care. It's good to be inspired. It's sometimes even good to cry. But the best of all is to act.
I don't know what kind of president Barack Obama will turn out to be. But I know that I am inspired to put my best self forward. And for that clarion call alone, for that refocus and re-motivation, I am grateful for his inauguration.
(44) Jessica , February 1, 2009
#25 Don-I don't think I'm Hashem!
This is just proof of what is happening now in the war, that negotiating with a people who are out to kill and destroy Israel, does NOT work. History repeats itself. Look back on it. Look in the Torah, I know you are not to hate. Hamas Hates Israel do you get it? Look in the Torah, G-d even has Israel kill their enemies, every man woman and child. This is spiritual, it's not going to be negotiated away. Hate of the jews is in their Koran, in their faith. read the war stories from Gaza and you will see what they are up to. I'm not for another ceasefire as Mitchell is proposing once again so that Israel can continue to have rockets rain down on sderot, ashkelon, etc. This is a battle against terrorism. It affects other countries besides Israel too. In America, we did not put up with it on 9/11. Why should Israel have to? It has nothing to do with hating an enemy, and being a sinner, it has to do with defending yourself against an enemy. This time, love won't work.
(43) Anonymous , January 29, 2009
I think, after reading several comments, that the comments have strayed so far from the article! Many of the comments are very critical. Why be so critical of a man who has been president for all of 9 days! Doesn't everyone deserve a fair chance? there are so many layers of judging going on in the comments. I think that next time you hear about a controversial thing that Obama has done, stop and try to understand the other side instead of automatically assuming a conclusion (whether you agree with him or not.)This will only broaden your knowledge and strengthen your argument. I also believe that many of the things people say are based solely on rumors that are not true. If you do the above exercise you will learn to differentiate facts from opinion or lies. I see many people have written hateful things about Obama and I'm not sure why. There is no evidence for anything that says he's an anti-semite or the like (no, he is no way a Muslim!. Whether you agree with his politics or not is a seperate issue, but there is no reason to worry about the Obama administration because ultimately everything is in Hashem's hands.
(42) Caroline , January 29, 2009
Kudos
Kudos to you Manuel. I couldn't have said it better myself!!
(41) Manuel , January 28, 2009
saddened indeed...
It is very sad indeed that also people from who you'd the least expect it are blinded by Obamas charisma and power of speech. There's no issue of hate. Obama may be a nice chap and there're many good reasons to rejoice in a black president after so many years of racial discrimination, but that may be the only reason to rejoice. Unity is great an beautiful but let's not forget that to achieve that unity Obama – or to be more precise, the liberal faction of the Democrats which he represents – is willing to forsake so many values which many of us hold dear and believe in. Applying their weltanschauung for domestic and for international affairs, Obama's administration tends to claim to accept everyone, see no evil in anyone or anything and let go of the differences in order to achieve unity. No wonder that the crowds feel elated… It seems that Bush has created so much antagonism that US citizens want to change their image as perceived by themselves and by outsiders at any price. They feel at an all-low point and all they now want is to grow morally, spiritually and economically, without giving a thought about the best way to achieve that. It's reminiscent of Israelis (to which I belong) tired of waging war and wanting peace at any price, often forgetting they don't have a partner for that peace process. Obama's policies sound like love and peace as preached by the Beatles in their song "Imagine" - Imagine there's no heaven" and "no religion too" – rather than as preached by the Psalmist - "turn from evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it" - . Love and peace are important values, but not if one has to do away with the term "evil" in order to achieve that state. Only love and peace based on truth and justice – and yes, good and evil are part of that lexicon, as unpopular as that may be in post-Bush America – is real and durable. Let's realize that before it's too late and before also the US loses all sense of what's right and wrong, as Europe did a long time ago.
(40) roy , January 28, 2009
i couldnt agree more
i couldnt agree more