Proud to Be an American

So, I've been in a presidential state of mind lately. I've been watching the mini-series "John Adams" on DVD for the past two weeks, and have learned quite a bit about the founding fathers and the Revolution, and the one thing that I've really taken away from the viewing experience is bravery.

John Adams and his cohorts Washington, Jefferson, Rush, and even the nasty Pickeney from South Carolina were the most brave men that I've ever experienced. In writing the Declaration of Independence, they were separating themselves from everything they've ever known. England had supported (and royally pissed them off, pun intended) for so long, and in the scene where they read the Declaration on the steps in Philadelphia, you can see both bravery and true fear in the men's eyes. They were basically signing their own death certificate, if they were caught by the British. They were committing treason against the crown, but they knew that if they were to be truly happy as a nation, they needed to break from England. They were travelling into the unknown, and they were taking their family and countrymen with them. They didn't know how they were going to run themselves, but they did it anyway. That, my friends, is true bravery.

Then, later in the episodes, Adams goes to France, where he is completely taken for granted and ignored in the presence of the mighty Benjamin Franklin. Instead of sulking or going home without doing his job, he instead went to Holland to strike a deal. Bravery. Going against the plan. Getting the job done, no matter what. He was terribly sick, missing his beloved friend Abigail, and all alone on his venture. But he went. He was a success. Bravery.

Then he serves as an unpopular president. He believed he wouldn't be remembered in a good light, and that history would hate him. But he made the decisions regarding the Alien and Sedition acts and other actions during his presidency. He moved into the unfinished White House in a rough territory, and basically lived in one room with his wife. Bravery.

(I have to leave it here, because I don't know how far Navy Girl is in the series....but Bravery abounds in the last few episodes)

And now, today, I watch Barack Obama be elected to the 44th presidency. The first man of color to be elected to the office. He inherits two wars, an economy in the gutter, following a president with the lowest popularity rate ever, and is going to raise two beautiful young daughters and care for his lovely wife in the glaring media spotlight of the White House. But yet, he's encouraging the entire United States that we can change our situation. Change Is Here. And he accepted this position freely.

I think Barack Obama is one of the bravest men on our planet tonight.

He has a challenge ahead of him, but his head is high and he's ready to go.

So, after watching the John Adams series and observing the newest presidential election, I'm indeed proud to be an American. We are a country that was forged out of nothing but the guts and determination of our Founding Fathers, and is has survived an attempt at takeover by the British, an internal War that could have torn us apart, two World Wars, and the threat of Nuclear War for over 45 years. We've come out a bit bruised at times, a bit embarassed some moments, but truly stronger for the experience. I'm proud of Us, the United States of America. Throughout our history, we truly have been brave.

I pray that Mr. Obama is able to shoulder his oncoming burderns with the bravery he will need. Like he said, things are going to get worse before they get better, but I hope that America also has the bravery to work it out with our President and allow him to do the things he thinks is best. He'll need all of our good thoughts and prayers.

Godspeed, Mr. Obama. The United States is ready to help you on your brave mission.