Looking forward to the events later today - and glad I'm not trying to be in DC myself to see them - exciting I'm sure, but the crowds - no thanks! I shall get my excitement through the wondrous medium of television, thanks very much...
I did do something today that I never imagined I might do, though - I hung an American flag outside my house (from the upstairs window). I've nothing against the American flag per se, I'm just not a flag-waving type of person in most instances. Oddly enough, despite that, I do own an American flag - this was from when my dad died - it's not the flag from his actual funeral (my brother has that, in a display case with my dad's military medals - but even if I had it, I wouldn't have hung it, as it was folded by a guard of honour at the actual service) but one that Nancy bought because she hadn't yet received the official flag and was worried we wouldn't have one. So in the end, there were two - but only one used at the funeral. As the flag I have was only folded by me & my kids in the fashion I learned in Girl Scouts, I wasn't worried about unfolding it and hanging it out. It's a full size flag, though - it's HUGE!!
But today, for the first time in quite a while, I am happy to boast a little about my American-ness. As many Americans in Europe (and elsewhere) will understand, it's been very tough being a liberal American in the recent past - I'm not pleased with our previous President or most of the decisions taken while he was in power, so it's a nice change to have such a positive statement being made as the election of a young, intelligent, liberal person as president. The fact that we finally have a non-white President is just icing on the cake. (Personally, it's the intelligent & liberal aspects that truly excite me - who'd have thought the US would have elected someone so far from the middle of the road?)
Anyway, I look forward to watching coverage of the inauguration later today and just hope that my fellow countrymen & women will give this intelligent and honourable man the chance he deserves to try to undo some of the damage done to the US at home and abroad over so many years where those at the helm considered so little the role of such a power throughout the world in favour of lining pockets at home. [Run on sentence, I know, I know.] I strongly believe that as the most powerful nation in the world, the US has a responsibility to act wisely and responsibly and set a good example for all nations and it makes me happy, and yes, even proud, to have elected a person who at least intends to lead us in that direction.
I did do something today that I never imagined I might do, though - I hung an American flag outside my house (from the upstairs window). I've nothing against the American flag per se, I'm just not a flag-waving type of person in most instances. Oddly enough, despite that, I do own an American flag - this was from when my dad died - it's not the flag from his actual funeral (my brother has that, in a display case with my dad's military medals - but even if I had it, I wouldn't have hung it, as it was folded by a guard of honour at the actual service) but one that Nancy bought because she hadn't yet received the official flag and was worried we wouldn't have one. So in the end, there were two - but only one used at the funeral. As the flag I have was only folded by me & my kids in the fashion I learned in Girl Scouts, I wasn't worried about unfolding it and hanging it out. It's a full size flag, though - it's HUGE!!
But today, for the first time in quite a while, I am happy to boast a little about my American-ness. As many Americans in Europe (and elsewhere) will understand, it's been very tough being a liberal American in the recent past - I'm not pleased with our previous President or most of the decisions taken while he was in power, so it's a nice change to have such a positive statement being made as the election of a young, intelligent, liberal person as president. The fact that we finally have a non-white President is just icing on the cake. (Personally, it's the intelligent & liberal aspects that truly excite me - who'd have thought the US would have elected someone so far from the middle of the road?)
Anyway, I look forward to watching coverage of the inauguration later today and just hope that my fellow countrymen & women will give this intelligent and honourable man the chance he deserves to try to undo some of the damage done to the US at home and abroad over so many years where those at the helm considered so little the role of such a power throughout the world in favour of lining pockets at home. [Run on sentence, I know, I know.] I strongly believe that as the most powerful nation in the world, the US has a responsibility to act wisely and responsibly and set a good example for all nations and it makes me happy, and yes, even proud, to have elected a person who at least intends to lead us in that direction.
3 comments:
AMEN!!
Mom
mmm, hear, hear!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts...i couldnt agree more! im not a big flag waver either, but i am proud to see the country's choice for change...and its awesome to see the flag hanging in other countries with pride! A happy day indeed!
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