The new American president’s inauguration speech was not one of those that galvanize and carry one away. His speech was rather an extremely important one because it tallied the American citizens whom have come out of a Bush era disturbed, even dirty, and with no reference at all.
What is today’s America? What does it mean to be an American? After having spent eight years under the blanket of a legitimization of a state lie, military aggression, arrogance and political simplification, along with the financial irrationality, President Barack Obama has reminded his citizens of their fundamental values.
He wanted to give them the real sense of their essence, strength and responsibilities. This is to give them legitimization before he enters into action; but moreover, to give the American people a sense and pride of their defeats.
What is an American? An American is a man who takes risks. It is a man who works hard, is honest, tolerant, and curious. It is a humble man who has duties towards others, his nation and the world. It is a man who, for the past centuries, has braved the icy current, endured the storms, whom has not renounced and who scarifies himself to ensure the safety of coming generations. Obama double scores. He tallies the internal and ensures the external. The rest of the world does not know this American portrait anymore, they no longer believe in it. By making humility one of the capital values of his nation, Obama gives back to the world the taste of America, instead of the contempt that prevailed.
America, as Obama tells us, does not only reason through missiles and tanks but through alliances and tenacious convictions. America has a strength that does not authorize it to do anything it pleases. America knows that greatness is never a given but something that needs to be earned. America cannot consume the world’s resources without considering its consequences. America is ready to lead again, and since the world is changing, it needs to change alongside.
In this ‘mea culpa’, public display of humility, as much as within its shape and at its base, there is space to believe or to give a chance to the “new age,” a true revolution in which the new president describes its essence in this inauguration speech. During the campaign, Obama has given hope; on his inauguration day he defined the strength the troops have and how they have to lead the fight to pursue their objectives. The time of only words needs to stop here. The new president needs to act and needs to know that it will be long, hard and that there will be setbacks. “We need to start the work and rebuild America” he declared yesterday.
Go! There is no more time to waste.
Bush is a perfect example of that old adage “arrogance diminishes wisdom”!