While I don’t hold out much hope for what Obama will accomplish politically, I do have some sincere hopes for the next four years.
I sincerely hope that his daughters have a good experience with their father as president, that they are kept safe, and that they do not suffer personally throughout their lives because of this experience.
I sincerely hope that we do not suffer another 9-11 because terrorists are emboldened by a president who has been anything but reassuring on the topic of domestic security.
I sincerely hope that the Secret Service does their job to perfection and Obama is not assassinated. I cannot begin to fathom the fallout in this country if he were assassinated.
I sincerely hope that nothing happens to Obama because the thought of Biden (or Pelosi) as president is virtually unthinkable.
Since Obama is taking on a mess of astronomical proportions in this country, it should afford him a slightly longer honeymoon. I know that I am certainly willing to wait until at least March for my free healthcare to begin. David and I were already talking this afternoon about what we are going to do with an extra 10k a year now that we won’t have to pay for our health coverage or prescriptions or anything.
Ok, I jest. Back to my hopes.
I sincerely hope all the people who are expecting a combination of the Second Coming of Christ, Moses parting the Red Sea, and every other biblical illusion you can think of will be able to come to terms with the fact that Obama is not going to start paying their mortgage or car payment. He isn’t going to suddenly ensure that everyone makes at least 40k a year. There are some people who are in for a real shock in the next six to twelve months.
I wish I had saved the link to a comment I saw on a news article. The woman was going on and on about how Obama was going to save us. I am not exaggerating when I relate this: She said that Obama would be greater in history than Jesus Christ himself. I have thought of that person so many times since then and wondered what she was thinking. And what she will be thinking in the months ahead.
I would love to say I feel great hope today but I do not. And I felt even less when I read the closing benediction online. I’ll put it here in case you missed it (copied from Drudge):
Benediction at Obama ‘s inauguration, Rev. Joseph Lowery: ‘Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get in back, when brown can stick around… when the red man can get ahead, man; and when white will embrace what is right. That all those who do justice and love mercy say Amen. Say Amen’…
It is going to be a long four years.
NormalMiddle said:
Ok, Crazy. I mean that is SO eighteenth century. An elected official actually being a public servant? Someone would actually have to study real history to even have heard of that concept. But, oops, they are too busy learning to compost and do Native American rituals to actually be educated as to the founding and purpose of this country.
I know that my sarcasm is probably bothering some people, but the sheer stupidity of what we are having to deal with in this country the past twenty years just boggles the mind.
Jen said:
I hear you. So much for respecting the office of the president. Oh sorry. That doesn’t apply to Republicans. That only applies to Democrats. Now we will be commanded to respect the office because their man is in there. Forget the horrible treatment of the previous president.
Ann said:
That is creepy. We are to be servants of Christ.
And ****imagine**** if conservative children had said they were pledging to be a servant to Bush??!?!??!?!?!?!? Can you ****imagine**** the outcry!??!?!?!??!
Micki – I understand what you are saying and to a certain degree I do agree with you. In all fairness, most of the women who have commented here today have said in other threads about Obama that they are and/or will be praying for him. So even though it hasn’t been mentioned specifically in this thread, it has come up many times before. I have also personally commented elsewhere that I truly hope Obama comes to a saving knowledge of Christ because from what I can discern from observing him at a distance, I do not sense the Holy Spirit indwelling him.
I agree that we should show respect for the office of president. I find the transfer of power an amazing thing to behold. I love my country. I love presidential history. I read American history for fun. I believe our Constitution is an amazing document. But that doesn’t mean I have to stay silent and not critique what my president says or does. I found that benediction truly appalling and offensive. It is still within my rights to discuss that in a public place. Discussing that here is not being disrespectful to the office of the president. Observing the cult-like following is not being disrespectful.
I think a lot of what is happening here today (and the past few months) is a bunch of women finding a safe place to try to process what is happening to the country we love. If we didn’t love the USA, we wouldn’t bother.
A few more thoughts as I’m still processing some of these comments…
I strongly believe in God’s providential hand in the founding of America. I believe that part of what made the U.S. great was its recognition of God’s sovereignty and power.
I believe that there are still many great Americans in this country. There are many Americans – Christian and otherwise – who work hard, provide for their family, support their community, and make the U.S. a place where people want to live.
But I do think this country is at a crossroads. It is a country deeply divided between people who have very different ideas as to the direction it should head. Half the country believes they have found their Messiah. The other half is mourning the loss of something they can’t even maybe articulate. The next ten years may decide which way we go.
It is also a country that is increasingly populated by people who have absolutely no fear of God. I’m not even talking Christians. I’m talking about moral and/or religious people with a fear of consequences when they do wrong. We’re in increasingly short supply of those as well. I do not think this bodes well for us on many levels.
Personally, I think it is very likely that the U.S. has peaked and is already in permanent decline. It gives me no pleasure to say that. I have a two year old daughter and I do not believe she will live in a a great country as a middle aged adult. She may not even live in the U.S. as we think of it. I believe it becomes increasingly likely that North America will be reshaped and redivided over issues such as water rights (amongst others).
Civilizations don’t usually flame out in a month or a year or even fifty years. It takes time. But I think we are already headed in that direction. I think the opportunity to turn this around is growing steadily smaller.
Consider these two quotes:
and
We have a significant segment of our population that has discovered the truths of both these quotes. And we have a functionally illiterate population when it comes to the Constitution and such.
And now we have the most liberal Senator as POTUS with the full backing of a Congress loaded with liberals. Their core policies line up completely with the quotes above. I’ll leave it to you to do the math.
Maybe Obama will move more center than he has been as a Senator and as he campaigned. But from where I sit, unless there is a huge change of attitude and practice in this country as well as a true Holy Spirit infused revival, this country is toast and is headed the way of the Roman Empire. If you want something to keep you up nights, read about the causes of the decline of the Roman Empire and then consider the U.S.
I’m sorry this comment is such a downer. But I wanted to explain why I feel so passionately about the things that distress me about this country. This goes way beyond just not liking Obama or respecting the office of president. It comes out of a firm belief that we are rapidly approaching the point of no return in this country and the USA that I appreciate so much is simply not going to exist in the not so distant future.
This is probably the best commentary I have read on the current events.
Thanks, Mary. We usually have pretty good discussions around here. I’m blessed with a group of really great readers and commenters, a number of whom don’t agree with me but we have a good time anyway despite our differences of opinion. 😀
Here is an article I found written by Dick Morris who is a former adviser to Trent Lott (R) and Bill Clinton (D). He lays out pretty simply and thoroughly what he expects to see Obama do in the next four years. The Obama presidency: Here comes socialism.
Here’s a quote:
I really encourage everyone to read it. Even if Morris is only correct on half of his predictions, this country is simply not going to be the same. Many people, including a number who voted for Obama, have no idea what is about to be unleashed in this country.
Thank you Sallie for this space. I learn so much from reading your writing and all of the commenters, who are also excellent writers and thinkers. It is good to be challenged in our thinking. And yes, from a previous comment, a good reminder to keep praying for Obama. And to keep praying for the unborn, they are going to need it.
Have you ever been surrounded by smoke, then a strong breeze blows in and starts dispelling the haze?
This whole miserable election season has been the smoke. Your post and most of the comments have been a breeze that is blowing the crud away. I have longed to hear others expressing what I am feeling.
Thank you so much.
I love Sean Hannity but I disagree with him and Richard Land and so many of the others who have congratulated Obama and wished him success. Wished him success?? We already know what he stands for. Not just abortion but the death of those who survive abortion! Other blogs that I have previously enjoyed reading are talking about “praying for him”, etc… I pray that he will be prevented from doing the evil to this country that he plans.
For years we have been anesthetized in the church with “feel good” teachings. This does not prepare us for troubled times. It seems that we have huge Christian nurseries with very little emphasis on growth. “Judge not” has become the verse of choice. But Jesus also said: ” Therefore, you will [a]fully know them by their fruits. Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven.”Matthew 7:20-21 (Amplified Bible) I cannot judge what is in Obama’s heart. But I’m looking at his fruit, and it is rotten.
As for all the adulation, here’s what Acts 12:22-24 says about a similar situation:
“And the assembled people shouted, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man!
And at once an angel of the Lord smote him and cut him down, because he did not give God the glory (the preeminence and kingly majesty that belong to Him as the supreme Ruler); and he was eaten by worms and died.”
Micki said: “Before November of 2008, this country had not seen anyone of any color, other than white, or any gender, other than male, run for the office of presidency.”
Jessie Jackson ran for president in 1986, but did not get the nomination. Alan Keyes has run several times.
Barak Hussein Obama is a frightening man. If Clarence Thomas had run, I would’ve voted for him in a New York minute, but thankfully, at least he is on the Supreme Court.
The color of the man’s skin is not the issue. It’s the content of the fruit of his character.
Hi Sallie,
I’m chiming in a little late. My first thoughts as I heard Rev. Lowery’s benediction was, “What country has he been living in?” I think he feeds on the idea that African-Americans are still being oppressed in this country. I think “the day” that he was praying for has certainly arrived, but I think in some ways he doesn’t really want to admit it.
I also wanted to comment on the whole “cult of Obama” mentality. My husband was in Washington DC today for the March for Life and noticed that a shop in Union Station that used to be a regular gift shop is now entirely devoted to Barack Obama merchandise. President Obama’s picture was also printed on his Metro ticket. As he said, “this is not what we do in a democracy.” Very creepy indeed.
In a similar vein, I have been quite frustrated with so many Christian voices around me overlooking the abortion issue so that they can “fully appreciate the historical significance of this day.” Or others who have found a way to justify their support of him and his socialist policies….policies they feel will reduce the number of abortions needed because women will be less likely to seek abortions if they feel financially secure. Canada’s abortion rate has steadily increased in spite of very strong social welfare programs. I am frustrated that so few people see abortion as THE social justice issue of our era. We are celebrating the pinnacle of the civil rights movement in America while millions of innocents are being oppressed, denied civil rights or even life. We clearly have a long way to go and it so saddens me to see people so helped along by the civil rights movement using their power to turn around and oppress another innocent group.
I am certainly praying that God would change President Obama’s and other leader’s hearts about abortion, but it seems as if he has already made steps to further his agenda today by lifting the ban on federal funding to non-profit groups who perform and promote abortions in other parts of the world.
Your quotes about the decline of democracy ring eerily true of our nation today. Lord, show us your mercy.
Thanks for providing a place to vent!
A frequent reader, but very infrequent commenter,
Beth
Carla and Beth,
Thank you for your thoughtful comments.
I would also add to Carla’s list that Geraldine Ferraro was on the Democratic ticket many years ago so Sarah Palin was the first woman nominated by the Republicans, but not the first woman.
Sooooo interesting to go back and read this post and especially the comments now, sixteen years later.
This is why I make the effort to keep all this content alive. It’s a living record of what people were seeing, feeling, and perceiving in real time.