D.C. in winter

Now, there’s a locale to choose for a honeymoon.
Like most of you readers, we expect, we spent much of Tuesday morning watching the spectacle in our nation’s capital. We remarked, of course, on the obvious – the transfer of authority in the world’s most powerful nation, notable as always for its lack of fighting, bloodshed or apparent discord. We must never take that for granted. Remarkably, though, this time it was accompanied by hugs and, literally, kisses. The cold weather may have been bitter, but the emotions seemed honestly warm.
We like Obama. He is a man after our own heart: optimistic and visionary. We’re ever hopeful of a better future, and so is he.
Not everyone hopes for the same things, certainly. When the Obama administration comes down from the President’s lofty prose and begins to work his programs through Congress, it may be tough to translate that hope into action, for that legislative body remains as partisan as any, composed of individuals with powerful self-interests. Obama’s unique challenge will be to keep his optimism and his vision through the tough political trials ahead.
So let’s linger in that lofty prose a little longer; let’s enjoy this honeymoon as long as it lasts.
Obama’s inaugural speech was exactly right in length, tone and temperament. It was truly inspirational. (He couldn’t have done better if he’d had a speechwriter.)
Not since Ronald Reagan, and John Kennedy before him, have we seen a leader who can put into words what so many people feel and who can inspire us to sacrifice in pursuit of our goals.
Obama challenged us to recall and realize the “values on which our success depends – hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism.”  As he said, “These things are true.”
Obama challenged his political party, in control of both houses of Congress, to reform government: “The question we ask today is not whether government is too big or too small but whether it works… Where the answer is no, programs will end.” Wow.
Obama challenged world leaders to recognize our determination: “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.” This was balanced with the perfect counter-offer: “We will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.” Again, wow.
We suggest that the President read the speech again, to himself, on the 20th of every month, as a reminder that he needs to continue making those challenges and setting those high expectations for America and for Americans. Through the difficult times ahead, as people start to take sides when the specifics of his proposals come forth, Obama’s greatest calling may be to inspire us again and again, to recognize “the price and promise of citizenship.” This is leadership.
We admire our new President for committing himself and our nation to greatness. He mused that, “There are some who question the scale of our ambitions.” Not us. In our view, Obama is headed in the right direction, “in this winter of our hardship,” and we wish him well.