tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4638619958588096610.post3530825980206756046..comments2023-11-22T09:11:01.567+00:00Comments on George Szirtes: Glad DayGeorge Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08889600788146987089noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4638619958588096610.post-28787673362755637822009-01-21T23:36:00.000+00:002009-01-21T23:36:00.000+00:00I have lived a good long life. I've seen much in t...I have lived a good long life. I've seen much in that time and am streetwise to politics and politicians. 'Off the cuff' are they, usually. But, Barack Obama's inauguration has stirred me within. Like an old sea dog, I've sniffed the air and can sense a change. Today, one of his first acts as President, his condemnation of lobbyists, only served to confirm my gut feeling that he is someone very special who is not afraid to act for the people he serves rather than those who have the most power. I also sense inclement weather and possible mutiny. Whether he is powerful enough to ride this sea change and rebellion remains to be seen. We have an interesting few years ahead of us. I wish him well on his journey. As should all good men.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4638619958588096610.post-57296796900274449752009-01-21T13:53:00.000+00:002009-01-21T13:53:00.000+00:00Left work to see it in the company of two good fri...Left work to see it in the company of two good friends, one of whom accompanied me to the Poetry Ireland Writers for Peace event later in the evening - a double whammy of instinctive, creative optimism, without any flinching from the harshest of realities.Padhraig Nolanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11010869074911253314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4638619958588096610.post-39331259011860660252009-01-21T07:42:00.000+00:002009-01-21T07:42:00.000+00:00Unclenching fists is always a good idea, Gwilym. S...Unclenching fists is always a good idea, Gwilym. Saying so is easier than doing so, of course, and doing so becomes his problem now that he is the president.<BR/><BR/>I am an Old European (and now, increasingly, an old European) not an American. Historically, psychologically, in most ways,for all kinds of reasons, I am therefore more sceptical about almost everything than an American might be.<BR/><BR/>But then I think, if America can elect its first black president then perhaps this too is possible and easier than it seems. After all, the Berlin Wall came down. Not that that solved everything, of course, but that too seemed impossible.<BR/><BR/>So I am grateful and moved that there should be hope. Obama is - why els is he there? - the symbol of that. Let's go with it and see.George Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08889600788146987089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4638619958588096610.post-37795701629437944632009-01-21T07:08:00.000+00:002009-01-21T07:08:00.000+00:00George, Apropos your footnote the phrase that he u...George, Apropos your footnote the phrase that he used "unclench the fist" comes to my find. The Gaza War, it now seems to be reduced to the status of the Gaza Conflict, was a timely demonstration of fists that badly need to be unclenched at their violent work (both sides, just like David & Goliath; you think they'd all learn by now).<BR/>Dana you now can, and now should, be very proud of your country. This morning I far away feel I am there with you in your new dawn! <BR/>GwilymGwil Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03305768121713053837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4638619958588096610.post-89364973751003721642009-01-21T03:26:00.000+00:002009-01-21T03:26:00.000+00:00I can now be proud of my country, for the first ti...I can now be proud of my country, for the first time in eight years. I actually cried and hugged my friend in the campus bookstore, as we watched. The shots that brought the tears? The people, not him, not celebrities, but the people, who traveled, who got out in the cold at 4 a.m., who brought their kids, who are still stunned with joy. <BR/><BR/>I think of the monumental tasks ahead, and I keep trying to think of him as human first, a symbol second.danahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09902311224633734779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4638619958588096610.post-55508432390231738162009-01-20T23:31:00.000+00:002009-01-20T23:31:00.000+00:00I stayed in to watch this, nearly missed the theat...I stayed in to watch this, nearly missed the theatre but this time couldn't care less for this was far more important. It was a moment in history. It was "Ich bin ein Berliner, it was "Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country", it was "I have a dream" and it was all, like America can be when she shines from sea to sea, more than the sum of the parts. The only downside to the whole thing was the brief shot (watched it on CNN wanted to be right with the American dream) the brief shot of those two tricksters, the one in yellow scarf and the one with narrow eyes whispering together, or so it looked. It was wonderful to see Michelle holding bible for him to take the oath, to see those two lovely girls his daughters totally relaxed and at ease, to see the mile long million people crowd, and to know that this whole history changing moments was being shown live in 240 countries. And that I was in a small way part of it. It was a wonderful moment which had me reaching for my hanky with one hand and my glass of celebratory schnaps with the other. Unclench the fist, he said. <BR/>Let's hope they and do.Gwil Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03305768121713053837noreply@blogger.com