“We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, 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; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.” — Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States of America.
Thought of the Day: Barack Obama
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Miley Crisis
i think i just had an Obamagasm
Strepsi
I loved it. LOVED the whole speech. And to include atheists in the “patchwork” was rare, true and classy. Color me inspired.
ask ena
Very surprised he included atheists, and I think (I hope) that is a symbol of his stance on the fanatical Christian Right.
GranDiva
I may be too gay, but that Isabel Toledo day look for Michelle was to die for.
The speech was good too, but I wanted to throw rocks at Dick Cheney.
I think that for the next inauguration, Obama needs to get Russell Simmons to hook the Inaugural Committee up with someone from Def Poetry. Give a little snap to the proceedings.
William Kapfer
Today, our community’s joyful promise of change was realized with Barack Obama being sworn-in as our 44th President of the United States. 

I am still absolutely awe-struck and overwhelmed that we’ve both elected a Democrat to the White House, but even more so that we’ve elected the first African American President in the history of the USA.


Whatever one’s political affiliation, I hope all Americans are experiencing the same pride I am— pride in our country to make such a brave and hopeful step into the future. We’ve seen a remarkable transformation that I believe will change the America we live in, and help create that more “perfect union” that the first sentence the US Constitution speaks of.
I can’t do justice to the moment, but on the night before he was assassinated, Martin Luther King said:


”And I’ve looked over, and I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land.”
 

We may not be to the Promised Land as a nation yet, but I think we just took a tremendous step toward it.