"The New Beginning"?
Did anybody else notice that phrase in Obama's Thanksgiving Day video message?
Barack started off his speech with a not unexpected reference to Lincoln - this time in the context of Thanksgiving, and - echoing the the theme of no Red American and no Blue America, with reference to "one heart and one voice by the whole American people."
From there he spoke of people and families coming together in a time of "great trial" referencing those at war, those anxious about jobs and those anxious about their retirement savings.
And then he said:
It’s going to take bold and immediate action to confront this crisis. That’s why I’m committed to forging a new beginning from the moment I take office as President of the United States.
I don't know, but to my ears, I think I heard capital letters on "New Beginning." I took it to reference not only the start of a new (his) administration, but a new approach to how we view ourselves, our country, and our roles (as individuals and as a United States of America). I also inferred a new approach to problem solving - one that focused on cooperatively using our economic, political and technological strength to address root causes:
But this Thanksgiving, we are reminded that the renewal of our economy won’t come from policies and plans alone – it will take the hard work, innovation, service, and strength of the American people.
And so - what better defining phrase than "A New Beginning" - not just new in the temporal sense, but new in vision, new in understanding, new in mission and new in how it will be implemented.
So this American (this proud American) can say, along with our soon to be President - for the first time in a very long time:
So this weekend – with one heart, and one voice, the American people can give thanks that a new and brighter day is yet to come.