still kind of weepy

[rushthatspeaks]

"But those values upon which our success depends - hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old." -Barack Obama, 01/20/09

Curiosity. Can anyone recall the last time that was listed as a virtue in political discourse in the U.S., not to mention listed as an old and trusted value?

I was delighted at his inclusion of non-believers; I was thrilled by his invocation of science. And 'we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals' is something I have been waiting to hear from someone in power for far, far too long.

But. Tolerance and curiosity. Almost a throw-away line.

That's the part that got to me.

ETA: also, how awesome is it that we are living in a time where I can be certain of accurate access to the full text of the inaugural address starting basically as it is given? Didn't we used to have to wait for the next edition of the newspaper? It is one of those living-in-the-future moments.

In other news, YAY!

Comments

[shahnasa.livejournal.com]

That's awesome. I've been at work, and haven't been listening to the speechifying, but that sounds awesome. I will definitely look it up later, and my atheist sweetie will also be delighted by the inclusion of non-believers and thrilled by an invocation of science.

[seishonagon.livejournal.com]

RealClearPolitics.com has the full text up.

[seishonagon.livejournal.com]

Yes, absolutely, to everything here!

I cried almost straight through the speech.

[buymeaclue.livejournal.com]

When he mentioned science and technology? I may have squeaked.

[nineweaving.livejournal.com]

I am so very happy I got to share the moment with you.

Nine

[sovay]

"But those values upon which our success depends - hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old."

And: "These things are true."

And to that, I can totally say amen.

[tiamat360.livejournal.com]

I watched with my co-workers at my research institute. We cheered when he mentioned science :D.

Somewhat tangential, but...I took a class on the history of curiosity (focusing on Japan) last year. Very interesting how opinions of curiosity have changed over the centuries. We also discussed its connections to scientific inquiry (to make this somewhat more relevant :P). Kinda wish I was in the class now, since Obama's inclusion of it would have been great to talk about with the professor.

And the non-believers thing was suuuper awesome! Yay Obama!

[slashfairy.livejournal.com]

*HAPPY*

[embryomystic.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on electing such a sane president. I watched the Inauguration on YouTube, and was mightily impressed at his progressive values. This is a very weird, almost unprecedented, feeling, to actually appreciate the values of an American president.