In the off chance of being vilified, I suggest the best course is to learn, forgive and move on.  I believe that this the course President Obama offered today.  To quote Indira Gandhi:

  “You can’t shake hands with a clenched fist.”

And let’s celebrate an amazing event in world history without rancor.

Watching the inauguration, I sat next to Saliha, one with a bit of middle east experience.  I learned that Barack means blessed, that Hussein means good looks.

We celebrate much more than a president “of color” today. Indeed, Mr. Obama is just as white as he is black.  He takes office at a time when our national demographic is on the verge of achieving that same mix.

Perhaps what is most amazing to me is that a determined man, whether by dint of his intelligence or blessed good looks, can rise in just a few years from relative obscurity to lead the nation - on the strength and expression of his ideas. I would remain more than a little skeptical if it appeared his path had been greased by the establishment.

That’s what I’m celebrating: Not just that “my fellow citizens” finally “get it”, but that they so enthusiastically embrace the ideas. I am greatly relieved and believe the rest of the world may have sighed with relief today, also.

Now that we get it, as Obama stressed, it’s time to get to it. Exciting times, my friends.

Beyond the history and histrionics, getting past the symbolism and getting to the substance, I appreciated the ghost of Tom Paine echoing in the words of Washington Obama chose to recall.  This will soon be the winter of our discontent. 

But the passage our new president would have been well served to remind us of, written by the real father or the revolution in the snows of Valley Forge, goes, ?These are times that try men?s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.?

Those are the words, written by his noble secretary,  that inspired Washington, and in the times to come need to be understood.

I could write a whole dissertation on some of these comments.  I agree that it was a great moment and certainly a step forward.  I have not been a Bush fan for many years, however I also am not subject to Bush Derangement Syndrome like so many others.  Bush lost favor with conservatives years ago when he decided to spend like a drunken sailor.  His legacy of doubling the national debt is my biggest issue.  Obama appears ready to continue that legacy, however, and we may see it double again over the next few years. 

I appreciate the comments on the war, this was always been a polarizing issue for people, as it should be.  I think the criticism is easy from the cheap seats.  We were not sitting in a classroom of children when someone came and whispered in our ear that a series of planes had flown into buildings.  We did not have to stand before the country after 9/11 and try to make sense of it.  I have no doubt that Bush’s value systems was altered by those events.  Just like a father coming home to find his wife and kids murdered, how are you ever the same.  Now that Obama is in the hot seat we will see if there is a change in policy.  He did sign orders to close Guantanamo, but also said last week that he did not see the need to really close it until the end of his first term.  Now that he is receiving the daily security briefing I doubt his campaign position is so crystal clear.

Being a scientist myself and engage in social science research I also appreciate the comments made on the value of science.  I have also seen the other side of science.  It is great to hear the media report on scientific studies that conclude .....  I am also very aware of the section in the studies that list the limitations of the research.  Every scientific study, whether in the social sciences or the natural sciences or medical has a long list of limitations associated with the research.  These limitations are severe and very real.  For some reason, however, we never seem to talk about them.  Science is great, but only if taken into context of the research limitations.  Ironically, I am probably less enamored with science now that I really understand it than I was before.  Science is more about politics and less about facts.  Science is driven more by the limitations than it is the surety of results.  Place your faith in it, but be very careful, it is not everything it seems to be.

I will write another blog on the reaching out to conservatives, but I have coined a new term- purple washing.  Jon Stewart said it best.  The speech could have been given just as easily by Bush (in fact it was as he pointed out in his clips).

I do have to make an editorial comment as well (this is driven at the national level and many in the media and political talking heads and not at any posting on this blog.  I know many of the people on this blog and they are not this way).  I watched an interview with Sarah Palin a couple of days ago.  She was asked about Obama and whether he was her president.  She was very complimentary, acknowledge the history of the inauguration and wished him the best.  She was sincere and meant it.  Of course, she also said that she would be critical of his policies when needed.  This is in stark contrast to 8 years ago when Bush became president.  I can appreciate the critical comments today, after 8 years, but the fact is Bush was never afforded the same consideration by many in the media and on the political left.  Bush made sure it was a smooth transition, Clinton and his cohorts trashed the White House on their way out.  Bush has acted with class until the final hour, Obama decided to go to dinner just as Bush was giving his farewell address (proper etiquette suggests that he watch and go to dinner after).  I appreciate that many suggest now that their hatred of Bush is due to the Iraq war, but many of these same people hated Bush before he ever took office.  Everyone I know on the right believes that Obama is their president, many on the left never believed Bush was their president.  Many of these same people now call for bipartisan support of our new president.  These calls for bipartisan support are more meaningful when their past actions reflect their current words.