Obama's First Day at Work, My Last One

I kept telling myself last week, if I can get past Tuesday. Everything will return to relative normal. I responded to CBS's "Yes We Can" Monday, by watching old Steelers films on the NFL Network. I was doing good. Then last night as I was falling asleep, I said a special prayer for my Country and my Co-workers to survive the events of January 20th. For weeks rumors have swirled about My company's plan to 'restructure' for the new economy, and we got word via the New York press last week that today was D-Day. I did not survive the cuts. Just hours before Barack H. Obama was to be sworn in as the 44th President of the United States, I was "let go". Some times things happen that are just too strange to be coincidence.

Add to the already growing weirdness, I will remind you that, I wrote a blog during the run-up to the election explaining the economic and unemployment fall-out from an Obama victory. I didn't and don't want to go into my specific field, but know that my industry relies on small businesses. I wrote in direct response to the knowledge that Millions were about to blindly cast a Vote for the Man whose policies will cause many Americans to lose their jobs. It was written out of fear and frustration at the uniformed masses making the Decision for all of us. Want some real Irony? I called the blog, "Vote for Obama! Vote Yourself Out of a Job". So it's not like I didn't know this could happen....but I didn't Vote for Obama or his recession, I voted for Sarah Palin.

At about nine o'clock this morning, I realized my scheduled had just been cleared for the remainder of the day, so I came home and settled in to watch the "Immaculate Inauguration". One reporter referred to the crowd in DC as "a sea of humanity", keeping in line with the "Royal Wedding" theme the OLM was pushing. Obama recited the oath, with limited difficulties, only slightly showing nerves at this Historic Occasion. In as much as I disagree with pretty much everything Obama says and believes. I am so proud of my Country, for the people have voted for America's First Black President, color is no longer a hindrance. In fact in Obama's case, it seems to have actually helped. Let's keep things simple and call that progress.

Obama's speech was surprisingly dull, he's usually a little stronger, but the speech meandered, mixing soaring rhetoric with awkward pausing and campaign slogans. The crowd wasn't quite as loud as I would have imagined, but they did Boo and sing that "hey, Hey Goodbye" song when President Bush was announced, so that was embarrassing. They must not have heard, We're all supposed to get along now.... They are getting the Coronation of Obama that they demanded, but they can't even show some respect for the man, The One is replacing? Liberals still have No class, some things will never Change.

Whatever the planners intentions, the Music that stole the show. Performances by Yo-Yo Ma and Itzak Perlman brought the gravitas that separated Obama's Inauguration from Finals week on American Idol. However it was Elizabeth Alexander's poem that really set the tone. Or.Should.I. say.tone. Her 'off beat delivery whether a desired effect or not, was just half the problem. I couldn't decide if it was about socialism or slavery....she actually said people in America were "darning" their something or other. It was terr.i.ble.

Then came the highlight of the birth of the Age of Obama. The closing prayer provided by Rev. Jospeh Lowery which came to the close with the following as reported by the Drudge Report, my emphasis added:

'Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get in back, when brown can stick around... when the red man can get ahead, man; and when white will embrace what is right. That all those who do justice and love mercy say Amen. Say Amen'...

When he did the Amen part, the crowd responded in Kind. You could almost hear the white guilt being forgiven as they chanted "Amen". Apparently, Rev. Lowery doesn't realize when they open the back door of the limo for President Obama, it's a sign of respect not RACISM. If putting a black man in the White House isn't enough to end the unnecessary cries of Racism, What on earth would be?


Barack H. Obama campaigned on a message of "Change", but his followers never bothered to ask what kind of change, he meant to bring. I thought I knew what his "changes", would bring, but I was hoping with all my heart that I was wrong for the sake of my family and our country. As I wrote in the "Vote Youself Out of a Job", Elections have consequences. If the first day is any indication, Obama's presidency certainly isn't the Change I wanted.