it is with heavy heart ...

i watch the inauguration of the new french president.   and, yes, i just changed the title because people may not understand why i am writing this.  please don't misunderstand.  the excitement and joy portrayed at the inauguration of sarkozy is not the reason for my sadness, indeed, the spectacle and pomp surrounding the new leader of france is, indeed, encouraging that one leader can follow another in a peaceful transition following a hard fought election cycle.

no, what makes me sad beyond any description, is the view of this new president riding in an open vehicle, proudly waving to those waiting to greet him on his new journey.

what breaks my heart is the recollection with angry satisfaction at seeing our own current "head" of state being pelted with snowballs during his mad dash to the safety of an enclosed ceremony - with angry americans being locked away from his narrow view of america.

our nation has fallen so far from the ideal of democracy that we are unable to participate in the simple joy of the process successfully working to place a newly elected representative of ALL of america into a new, hopeful term of office.

in france, sarkozy is greeted with firm acceptance and honest recognition of an election won - fairly, without manipulation, without fraud.

he has taken his place at the forefront of his nation's government and on the world stage with a legitimacy that our own "leader" lacks.

he is met with respect, unlike our own cowering representative that has so pathetically bungled every aspect of national and global policy that he is too terrified to even meet the unfiltered within our own nation.

watching the spontaneity of sarkozy walking among the people lining his inauguration parade, rushing to meet the crowds, he is decribed as having the image of "a man of power".  i am struck by his powerful strides toward his countrymen - and i am struck by the cowardice of our own "self-anointed ruler" and his race away from the members of our nation.

how far have we fallen?  how low has the moral of this nation sunk to allow our elected? representatives to avoid facing those who he is supposed to represent.

how long will we allow this to continue?  how long, before america reclaims the right shared by citizens to demand our leaders represent us, not their own desires.

i celebrate for the french people for keeping what we have lost, for fighting to maintain and protect that which is precious to all humankind... freedom.

i weep for america that we have allowed this freedom to slip away from us so easily.  

i pray that we will find the courage, strength and honor to reclaim that freedom - and, once again, regain the respect of all nations.

impeach.

now.