The Importance of Hope - Barack Obama

With all eyes and media attention focused on the hope of a nation, we are hours away from the official inauguration of the 44th President of the United States. By choice, I've grown to remove myself as much as possible from national politics. This stems from a jaded heart and mind, one that spent far too many years working on Capitol Hill -- and being of a generation that still doesn't trust the government.

Still, I can't escape this monumental event, even if the media would let us. My sixty-five year old retired husband is a political show junkie, who watches other arm chair "experts" flap their gums endlessly discussing every little detail in ad nauseum loudness -- as his hearing aid is something his stubbornly refuses to even pick up from the doctors.

I'm a "wait and see" kind of person. Talented people can talk a good game. Talented people can write and give good speeches. Talented people can make all kinds of good plans and especially make promises of "hope." Real life can get in the way of actually delivering hope into reality. Sadly, it may not even be the fault of a good man with good intentions.

In thinking about Barack Obama, I think it all comes down to one word, "hope." That's a weighty word, and on his shoulders perhaps rests the weight of a nation's hope, and so much more. I sincerely hope that he doesn't end up singing Hank Locklin's old song, "Make the World Go Away."

On the subject of hope, and the obvious comparisons between Abraham Lincoln and Barack Obama in these historic times, I couldn't help but be reminded, of the hope of a little girl. She knew then, and we should know now, that hope is very important. It goes hand-in-hand with perseverance, honesty, and remaining true to yourself, and your beliefs.

Eighty-seven years ago, she wrote this speech just four weeks after burying her mother and infant sister. Her assignment was to talk about a past United States president -- she chose Abraham Lincoln.

In her best sixth grade penmanship, she wrote the words to her speech:

"In America, as in no other country, is shown the ability of a man to rise by his own efforts from the lowliest station to the highest. The best example of such progress we have is Abraham Lincoln, who was born in an humble cabin in the state of Kentucky on Feb. 12, 1809. His parents were poor and Lincoln's childhood was passed amid the wild surroundings of the pioneer."

"As he grew to manhood he attended the country school, assisted his father in providing for his family and especially did he learn to make rails. He became clerk in a country store at one time and was known on account of his strict honesty, and it was during this time that one day he was sitting near his uncle. He had recently lost by death one who was very dear to him."

"The rain was slowly falling outside and the tears were rolling down his cheeks. His uncle said, "Abe, why don't you cheer up?" and he replied, "Uncle, how can I, when the rain is falling on her grave."

"Lincoln was melancholy at times during his entire life. He married Miss Mary Todd, but his married life was not happy. For a number of years he was a pilot on the steamboats on the Mississippi River. He was always a great story teller, but not a good listener. He filled many offices of public trust, but was not a very brilliant statesman."

"He was elected President and served through a very stormy period of his country's career, at the close of which period he was assassinated one evening while enjoying himself in a theater, as was his custom."

"His body was brought to Springfield, Illinois, his old homestead and where his favorite son was afterwards buried. And so we see that if one will persevere and be honest and true, they may attain to any height and gratify their dearest wishes."

Daisy Genieve Hohl-Owens - January 1922 - Hillsboro, Missouri

The last time I attended a few black-tie inauguration balls was twenty-five years ago, when President Ronald Reagan had ten balls and two galas as part of his 2^nd inaugural celebration. For it’s time, it was the most expensive Presidential celebration and criticized widely, second only to his first inauguration, in terms of unprecedented spending, costing millions of dollars.

Having been to Reagan’s second inauguration celebrations, on the arm of a secret service agent that I once almost married (having met him when Reagan was shot and brought to The George Washington University Medical Center, where I worked in Hospital Administration) -- they are exciting, in that anyone in attendance -- will remember those parties for the rest of their lives.

With the hindsight of an old lady though, I have to wonder -- What they remember? It may be different that what most not attending would think. They might remember as I do, standing in long lines, in high heels, freezing cold, and an all too brief visit by the President, and lots of boring speeches by others. The food was good, the table decorations and flowers were beautiful -- but in the end -- looking back -- not worth being crammed together endlessly standing in line for everything, even to leave -- and definitely not worth the price of the party.

By virtue of the fact, that this is an unprecedented moment in history, due to Barack Obama being elected the first President with an African American heritage, I will give him credit -- he can't exactly do what others in similar financial times have done -- during the Great Depression and World War II -- when past Presidents just had charity balls.

So, in the spirit of hope -- I'd like to think he would if he could tone the celebration down. I'd also like to think, just like a young girl in Hillsboro, Missouri thought -- that the problems of our country can be solved -- if you just have hope, perseverance, and honesty.

The inauguration day is going to be interesting weather wise for all of Washington, D.C. as right now, they are experiencing the predicted snow showers today. As any Washingtonian knows, snow and this city don’t mix well, even if it comes before an event.

Add the three to four million possible out-of-town expected guests, and this could be a traffic event to be remembered by locals for a long time. I wouldn't mind seeing those ten thousand expected charter buses trying to navigate snow and ice in D.C. where snow removal and salting, is hit or miss.

The weather on the actual inauguration day is predicted to be 30 degrees for the high and eighteen degrees for the low, on a somewhat cloudy day. Not perfect, but since everyone is bent on comparing Abraham Lincoln and Barack Obama -- at least people won't be told to stay home, if they are non-swimmers --as they were with one of President Lincoln's rained-out inauguration parades and ball celebrations.