Inauguration Day

I chose not to watch the Inauguration of Barack Obama. . .In fact, I chose not to watch the five previous days of festivities either.  But yes, I am still quite patriotic.

Let me be clear.  I acknowledge and celebrate today for the historic moment that it is.  The first African-American has taken the oath of office and has promised to faithfully execute his presidential duties for the next four years.  I applaud the progress that we have made as a nation. . .the racism that we are eradicating step by step. . .the hope that President Obama’s election inspires to all people of color, especially young children who now know that, for them too, “It is possible!”

This is a historic day. . .the American flags waving, the military marches, the great Constitution being honored, the democracy of our beautiful nation at work.  But for me, it is hard to not see what else is being celebrated in five days of over-the-top, borderline worship of another human being.  Yes, this day celebrates what America is all about–democracy, our historical roots, overcoming oppression and indignities–but it also symbolizes what has gone wrong.  As a conservative and as a Christian, I am disheartened that this country has elected a man not based on qualifications, experience, or even an outstanding record of superb character (do we really even know it yet?).  We have elected a man based on three things.  (1)  He made us feel a certain way, and in this day and age, when we are such slaves to feelings, that was key.  (2)  He was the anti-George Bush, and with the vicious and deep-seeded hatred of our 43rd president among a small group with a loud voice via the liberal media, that persuaded many.  (3)  He is black.  Can we really deny that race had a lot to do with this election?  I cannot count the number of times a voter on the nightly news was asked why he or she was voting for Barack Obama–what one principle or policy he or she supported and felt qualified him to be president–and they said because it was about time we had a black man in the White House.

So I sat Inauguration Day out.  I cannot celebrate, with half of the nation, a man that promises enough anti-life, pro-choice legislation to choke us.  I only hear the cries of unborn babies being denied life.  I cannot watch as the Hollywood elite, who, for 8 years have opened their mouths, here and overseas, to trash America, resist patriotism, limit to the best of their ability the conservative and Christian voice, and treated our leader so inhumanly, now praise America as if they stood by her all along.  I cannot condone an extended celebration that costs double what Bush’s inauguration cost when we are in the middle of a military war abroad and an economic crisis here at home.  Where are all of those who had a problem with Sarah Palin’s wardrobe now?  I cannot understand how environment-loving celebrities and politicians flying in on 400-500 private jets for what can only be described as a self-glorifying party in D.C. is not considered hypocritical.

I love America.  Today I mourn what will inevitably be the beginning of her end.  A socialist agenda, a man who will not protect life, marriage, the family, or freedom, and a nation of individuals who either have no absolute truth to stand on, have abandoned it for the feel-good man of the hour, or have sat it all out in silence–these are not the things that I am proud of and they are not what I can celebrate today.  As a Christian, I believe the end of this world is fast approaching.  With President Obama’s policies, we may be reading prophecies out of the book of Revelation in every newspaper around the globe before long.

With God’s help, I will never treat the leader of the free world, President Obama, as many of those without decency and respect have treated President Bush, but I will also not celebrate in such a lavish way the beginning of an administration that has promised such detrimental things for the country I love.