An American Tune

As I watched BO’s Inaugural Address I actually teared up a little. Not because I was moved so strongly by his words but because of the desperate desire I have for a leader to actually act for the good of the nation and not his or his party’s interests.

Paul Simon’s American Tune comes to mind:

“Many's the time I've been mistaken
And many times confused
Yes, and I've often felt forsaken
And certainly misused
Oh, but I'm all right, I'm all rightI'm just weary to my bones
Still, you don't expect to be
Bright and bon vivant
So far away from home, so far away from home

And I don't know a soul who's not been battered
I don't have a friend who feels at ease
I don't know a dream that's not been shattered
or driven to its knees
but it's all right, it's all right
for we lived so well so long
Still, when I think of theroad we're traveling on
I wonder what's gone wrong
I can't help it, I wonder what's gone wrong

And I dreamed I was dying
I dreamed that my soul rose unexpectedly
And looking back down at me
Smiled reassuringly
And I dreamed I was flying
And high up above my eyes could clearly see
The Statue of LibertySailing away to sea
And I dreamed I was flying

We come on the ship they call the Mayflower
We come on the ship that sailed the moon
We come in the age's most uncertain hours
and sing an American tune
Oh, and it's alright, it's all right, it's all right
You can't be forever blessed
Still, tomorrow's going to be another working day
And I'm trying to get some rest
That's all I'm trying to get some rest”

As with a song, people interpreted Obama’s words in many different ways. A major theme in the talk was for the individual to sacrifice for the betterment of the whole. Some of that is necessary but it has a strong Socialistic flavor. We work hard and sacrifice in America to better ourselves and our children and the net result is a benefit for all. We don’t sacrifice as individuals remaining where we are for the country to benefit.

So as this song says I may be mistaken or confused and I truly hope I am but I still see the “spread the wealth” message in his talk. In the meantime we as a people are currently so down and desperate for change that the politicians are salivating.

I’m hopeful that BO will do what this country needs. I’m worried that Washington will take advantage of our crisis and destroy the American Dream. We will see how strong a leader he is and how clear his image of government “working” is.