Thoughts on Presidents’ Day

Today is Presidents’ Day. It is the day set aside by our country to celebrate the birthday of our nation’s first president, George Washington (1732-1799), and our sixteenth president, Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865). I don’t have much commentary to add, but here are some thoughts:

- The holiday is officially “Washington’s Birthday,” though in today’s culture some states recognize the birthdays of other presidents on this day.

- Barak H. Obama is our nation’s 44th President.

- Washington’s Birthday became a holiday in 1880.

- The History Channel is doing a series of specials on the presidents. Last night my wife and I watched part of the special on Andrew Jackson (our nation’s seventh president).

- A good (and brief) biography of George Washington is His Excellency George Washington by Joseph Ellis.

- Washington is the first of eight presidents born in Virginia

Inauguration

Today I’ve been watching the inauguration ceremonies on Fox News. I’m always interested in seeing these major political events. It is (as has been said many times today) always truly amazing to witness the orderly and peaceful transfer of power in our country from one leader to the next.
I enjoyed many things about the ceremony itself. First, it was great to see so many former presidents, vice presidents, and other officials all together. (A news source reported that Secretary of Defense Robert Gates would be off-site as a security precaution). I also enjoyed the music. I’d love to hear that John Williams composition again (what a masterful job those musicians did — seeing those musicians together was very impressive). One cannot help but be impressed by the sheer scope of the events in Washington. This is a HUGE day there. I enjoyed most of President Obama’s speech (though, not much really stuck out to me as particularly original or memorable). It’s amazing to see that there are people who can get the Bushes moved out of the White House and the Obamas moved in so quickly.

I enjoyed hearing Rick Warren’s prayer. I thought he did a good job. I wasn’t so sure about that poem. It seemed a bit too–free verse? for me. I like some form and substance and I couldn’t discern much from that one.

I also enjoy seeing all the military tradition that surrounds events like this. Being a military guy myself, I am fascinated by those sorts of things.

On the whole, I have to say that I think very highly of President Bush, and will miss him. At the same time, I am hopeful that President Obama will do his best to lead us. I will be praying for him.

I will look forward to him keeping some of the promises he has made to the American people, though some of them probably cannot (and some should not) be kept. I think many people will be disappointed by the end of the year when he changes some of his positions.

Still, for today, I’m a little kid watching the parades and events. I’m geeking out on the historical trivia. I want Obama to be successful as our leader, and I want him to protect the greatness of our country and people. May God bless our president and our nation.

Throwing Out the Sour Grapes and Embracing the Change

I wanted John McCain to win this election.  I believed (and still do) that he would have been a better president than Barak Obama.  McCain is much closer to my own conservative worldview than Obama.  I’ve also spent the better part of the last year investing myself mentally and emotionally in the proposition that “McCain is good for the country and Obama is bad.”

It would be easy to say that America screwed up, and I’ve thought that.  However, at the end of the day Barak Obama is going to be our new president.  I am, like many, disappointed.  Still, the bitterness and angry recriminations of what “might have” or “should have” been are ill-befitting of a follower of Christ.   And if that were not enough, the bitter sentiments and sour grapes of poor losers are some of the things which I have most disdained in political opponents.  The fact is, I will get over it.  The election is over, and it will be important for all of us to move forward, as Americans rather than partisans.

Am I over the election? Not yet.  To say that I have given it up and moved on would simply be false.  Still, I must recognize (as must we all) that God is in control — and if Jesus does not come back tonight — the sun will indeed rise tomorrow.  For tonight, though, I have learned some things.  For far too long now, although I have talked about trusting God, I have had a tendency to put my faith in the GOP and John McCain as its current standard bearer.  It is no easy change to diagnose such a condition and shift my trust completely back to the One in whom it should always have been.  Yet it is a change which I must and shall endeavor to make — and one which I hope you too will make if you have not already done so.

We cannot know what the state of our union shall be next year, or over the next four years.  Indeed, I am reminded that God is not on America’s side (though that can be a bitter pill when one is confronted with it).  It is not His place to be on “our side,” but rather our place to be on His.  Whether our nation is prosperous under a new administration, or whether we suffer terrible hardships I cannot say, nor should I try.  Still, through good times and bad, our faith must remain not in a man or an institution; no king or kingdom, but in Christ alone.  Our Christian forebears and many of our brethren even now have suffered under regimes far worse than an Obama administration will ever be.  I am therefore thankful for some things that have been accomplished with the election of Barak Obama.

• I have been reminded that we must not put our trust in human beings or systems, for they will always disappoint.
• Tonight we witness an historic occasion, where our nation has chosen for ourselves our first Black President.
• Our nation will once again witness the orderly transfer of power from one executive leader to another – a feat which is possible only in the greatest of nations and one for which we should be grateful.
• Our liberal friends and loved ones will not be moving away as they promised, but will stay here in the United States.
• To my knowledge, at this point there have been no riots.
• The will of the American people has prevailed and our representative democracy continues forward successfully.
• God has been known to use many who were deemed unlikely or unworthy in ages past, our day is no different.
• Scripture tells us that the hearts of kings are in Gods own hands, and He directs them as He so chooses (Prov 21:1).

There are no doubt many other things for which I can be thankful.  I hope that I will be able to recognize them in coming days. In the meantime, I salute our new president elect, Barak Obama.  Congratulations Mr. President!

On the Vanity of VP Speculations

Ever since we’ve had our two Presidential nominees – McCain and Obama–we’ve been hearing speculations about their running mates. I enjoy listening to talk radio, and I do keep an eye on the 24 hour news networks. So for the past several weeks I’ve been hearing the speculations of the political pundits, and the hosts who invite them, on just who the presidential candidates will choose as their running mates.

What amazes me is that every night on FoxNews or CNN the hosts take time to talk about the latest “news” on the Veep choices. Hosts tells what they “know” about the nominees’ choices every night — which is nothing. So for the last several days I’ve stopped caring. I will find out when everyone else does — after the running mates are announced.

I became fed up about a week ago when I remember seeing a Fox News panel discuss the VP choices, and the host asked each of the panelists who they thought each candidate would pick — each panelist (no doubt hedging their bets) said, “oh, he could pick this one, or he might pick that one, or even one of these two.” I interpreted this as “I don’t really know, but want to sound intelligent and don’t want to go on record as picking the wrong person.” I mean, sure, nobody wants to say “Obama will pick _______ as his running mate” only to look silly when Obama picks somebody else — likewise with McCain. It is funny though to hear some of these hosts talking about who they think Obama or McCain should pick — they all try to give their spin on what they imagine someone else is thinking or would do.

So here’s where I am on this issue — nobody outside the campaigns really knows who McCain or Obama will pick for their Vice Presidential running mates, but lots of people have many guesses. As for me — I’ll just wait patiently until the announcements are made, then there may be something to talk about, until then it’s just hot air and vain speculation.