Comments on: Guest Authors: Two Young Americans On What Obama's Inauguration Meant To Them http://www.chrisweigant.com/2010/01/20/guest-authors-two-young-americans-on-what-obamas-inauguration-meant-to-them/ Reality-based political commentary Wed, 08 Apr 2026 15:35:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Hawk Owl http://www.chrisweigant.com/2010/01/20/guest-authors-two-young-americans-on-what-obamas-inauguration-meant-to-them/#comment-7190 Hawk Owl Thu, 21 Jan 2010 20:05:11 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=1348#comment-7190 Like Michale, I found much to pin my own "hopes" onto in these two articulate young people. It's such a relief to read someone actually trying to THINK their way through something, in contrast with one-liner, machine gun, shoot-from-the-hip "commentary" of the kind that William Safire once termed "nattering nabobs of negativism" from within politics or their pilotfish convoy, those "chattering classes" of "analysts." Made my day. Have them on again. Like Michale, I found much to pin my own "hopes" onto in these two articulate young people.
It's such a relief to read someone actually trying to
THINK their way through something, in contrast with one-liner, machine gun, shoot-from-the-hip "commentary"
of the kind that William Safire once termed "nattering nabobs of negativism" from within politics or their pilotfish convoy, those "chattering classes" of "analysts."
Made my day. Have them on again.

]]> By: akadjian http://www.chrisweigant.com/2010/01/20/guest-authors-two-young-americans-on-what-obamas-inauguration-meant-to-them/#comment-7187 akadjian Thu, 21 Jan 2010 03:22:06 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=1348#comment-7187 Alexandra - Thanks for sharing! You brought back wonderful memories of the election season. I too will never forget the feeling of how wonderful everyone was at these events and the happiness and the joy of striving together towards common goals. It was such a contrast to the partisan bickering in the news and on TV and I remember thinking, this is what can happen when enough people come together for a cause. I thought, this is probably the closest I have ever felt to what people in the Civil Rights movement felt. Or people who protested the war in Vietnam. And Eric - You reminded me that it is not about one man being able to get something done. But about how true change can only come about through a groundswell of public support. (Unless, that is, you have tremendous amounts of corporate dollars backing your movement.) Imagine if the energy of the election, for example, could have been put into true health care reform. I also loved your line about how Obama was the boy who cried "hope, but forgot to whisper "time". One of the things I miss is the hope and the inspiration in the Presidency that was there during the election. It seems like Obama has rolled up his sleeves and worked behind the scenes to get legislation accomplished, but in the process may have forgotten to keep reminding us what he's fighting for. Right now, there's some disillusionment. But I have my fingers crossed for the coming year. And to Chris - This was a wonderful breath of fresh air today from all the Brown blather. Totally slipped my mind that it was Obama's 1-year anniversary. -David Alexandra - Thanks for sharing! You brought back wonderful memories of the election season. I too will never forget the feeling of how wonderful everyone was at these events and the happiness and the joy of striving together towards common goals. It was such a contrast to the partisan bickering in the news and on TV and I remember thinking, this is what can happen when enough people come together for a cause. I thought, this is probably the closest I have ever felt to what people in the Civil Rights movement felt. Or people who protested the war in Vietnam.

And Eric - You reminded me that it is not about one man being able to get something done. But about how true change can only come about through a groundswell of public support. (Unless, that is, you have tremendous amounts of corporate dollars backing your movement.) Imagine if the energy of the election, for example, could have been put into true health care reform. I also loved your line about how Obama was the boy who cried "hope, but forgot to whisper "time". One of the things I miss is the hope and the inspiration in the Presidency that was there during the election. It seems like Obama has rolled up his sleeves and worked behind the scenes to get legislation accomplished, but in the process may have forgotten to keep reminding us what he's fighting for. Right now, there's some disillusionment. But I have my fingers crossed for the coming year.

And to Chris - This was a wonderful breath of fresh air today from all the Brown blather. Totally slipped my mind that it was Obama's 1-year anniversary.

-David

]]> By: fstanley http://www.chrisweigant.com/2010/01/20/guest-authors-two-young-americans-on-what-obamas-inauguration-meant-to-them/#comment-7184 fstanley Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:31:38 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=1348#comment-7184 Thanks so much to Alexandra and Eric for sharing. It is really hard to believe that Obama has been President for such a short time when so much has happened this past year. While it is true that many of his supporters are disappointed with his progress they cannot deny that he has been trying to move his agenda forward on all fronts. I know that there is still a lot of work that needs to be done and that it will take time. It is only by being an active citizen and a participant in the political process that we can create real systemic change. I am sure that we can recapture those feelings of hope and happiness we had when President Obama was sworn in as we strive to make things better for everyone. ...Stan Thanks so much to Alexandra and Eric for sharing. It is really hard to believe that Obama has been President for such a short time when so much has happened this past year. While it is true that many of his supporters are disappointed with his progress they cannot deny that he has been trying to move his agenda forward on all fronts. I know that there is still a lot of work that needs to be done and that it will take time. It is only by being an active citizen and a participant in the political process that we can create real systemic change. I am sure that we can recapture those feelings of hope and happiness we had when President Obama was sworn in as we strive to make things better for everyone.

...Stan

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2010/01/20/guest-authors-two-young-americans-on-what-obamas-inauguration-meant-to-them/#comment-7183 Michale Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:24:12 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=1348#comment-7183 WOW.... If Alexandra and Eric are examples of our youth, then I am thinking our futures may not be too bad off after all. Ya'all write like pros with a maturity and clarity that belays the young years. Kudos to you both. Michale..... WOW....

If Alexandra and Eric are examples of our youth, then I am thinking our futures may not be too bad off after all.

Ya'all write like pros with a maturity and clarity that belays the young years.

Kudos to you both.

Michale.....

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