A good day

Various observations on Obama's Inauguration Day

1. A really busy day at work, but from the snatches of news reports I caught on NPR while in the car and from websites, it sounds like the nation is touched. Nay, the world. I could say the same about myself.

2. The most important part of Obama's speech:

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West — know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to the suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.

3. You know you are overwhelmed at work when you update your to-do list and two of the action items are to get through two other, different checklists.

4. We have finally made a hire! And we are excited about her. On her plate: (1) Learn the products, (2) Learn the customers, and (3) Restore Laura's faith in the American worker.

Our place in the world

The amount of attention that Barack Obama's election victory has generated abroad should fill us with pride. Despite our grave mistakes and ever-inward focus, we are a nation that other countries continue to look to. Maybe it's that we have just too compelling a storyline, like a TV series you continue to watch even through a really poorly-written season.

I hope that Americans marvel at all the attention, like I do. I hope it engenders some humility in us and a renewed sense of the responsibility we have toward the rest of the world.

My biggest reason for supporting Obama was that - because of his racial background and his promise as a thoughtful, intellectual leader - his election would in one fell swoop make right so many wrongs that have been done to America's image by the Bush administration. Even before Nov. 4, I imagined the world headlines and thought how great it would be able to get copies of these glorious front pages so I could roll around in them, like the world's happiest pig in mud.


































































Special thanks to www.newseum.org for collecting the world's front pages and making them available to all.