Daily Lessons from Life 22 January 2013 - Obama issues inaugural call for unity, equality

"Obama issues inaugural call for unity, equality - AFP 22 January 2013

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama issued a impassioned call for equality and national unity as he was inaugurated for a second term Monday, warning political "absolutism" must not thwart renewal and change.

The 44th president repeatedly used the "We the People" preamble to the US Constitution to suggest how to reconcile America's founding truths and the current discord and dysfunction of its embittered political system.

"Decisions are upon us, and we cannot afford delay," said Obama with the freedom of a leader who no longer needs to face voters, and the urgency of a president who knows that second-term powers soon wane.

"We cannot mistake absolutism for principle, or substitute spectacle for politics, or treat name-calling as reasoned debate. We must act, knowing that our work will be imperfect," Obama declared.

While reaching for a soaring note of national unity, Obama's address, delivered from the flag-draped West Front of the US Capitol, was laced with liberal ideology, and augured policies certain to enrage Republicans.

Signs of intent on issues like gun control and climate change may also worry those Democrats who must run for re-election in conservative territory in 2014 mid-term polls, and who may hold the fate of Obama's agenda in their hands

In an apparent bid to frame his legacy, Obama said America must shield the weak, the poor and those lacking health care and demanded equality for all races and gay rights, and security from gun crime for children.

"Our journey is not complete until all our children, from the streets of Detroit to the hills of Appalachia to the quiet lanes of Newtown, know that they are cared for, and cherished, and always safe from harm."

Obama also vowed the meet the threat of global warming, despite skepticism on climate change among some Republicans and daunting political and economic barriers to taking meaningful action.

Poignantly, Obama took his second, second term oath of office on the federal holiday marking civil rights pioneer King's birthday."

The great democracy prevailed. Obama is the next President again, for the last time. He has the FREEDOM of a President who will NOT be facing the voters again. He knows the time is NOW to do whatever he knows is right but had held back during his 1st term. He also KNOWS that the 2nd time is short as the POWER of the not-to-be-elected-again President wanes once it passes the next 'Presidential Election' campaign!

Lessons for me are:

1. if you deliberately held back when you know the TIME is not right, there is NO REASON to hold back when you KNOW the time is running out soon. It is better to had tried and failed and never knowing 'what could have been had I tried!';

2. Obama has identified many flaws or weaknesses or cracks in the mighty USA society. Hopefully he and his team can truly fix SOME of them. Some of them are really National Cultural issues like: greed is not necessarily good but necessary to drive people to work harder and smarter to create more and grow; the disadvantaged, unless proven otherwise, are just parasites who live off other decent hard- and smart-working people!; carrying military style guns is a Constitutional Right when the Constitution surely was framed with the Wild Wild West simple handguns and the lawlessness of that time in mind; the healthy living style of the many people who are obese due to eating habits framed by the 'up-sized me' fast food culture?; etc;

3. Will the Republicans play ball and not play game when deciding on national policies focusing solely on IF the policies are REALLY helpful to right USA or on if the Republicans win? A big test for the centuries old democratic system of the USA. There are, I am sure there are, many SMART and BRILLIANT people in the USA. Many are in position of power to sway public opinions, inspire people to do the right things. Will they stand up and stand out. Will they truly put the nation's interests ahead of their own self-interests?

We will see. In time to come ...