Tuesday, January 20, 2009

44



My favorite line from the speech: "We reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals."

(Yes, we do!! Finally.)

The money quote: "What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility - a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task."

Other highlights: 1. Joseph Lowery speaking these lyrics: "God of our weary years, God of our silent tears" from Lift Every Voice and Sing. 2. Itzhak Perlman et al. Look at Gabriela Montero's gloves. A pianist's gotta do what a pianist's gotta do. 3. Even supreme court justices get nervous in front of big crowds.

Also, I have a new crush.

4 comments:

Paul said...

The John Williams piece was lame. It sounded like a mash-up of 18th century folk melodies with a couple of nice key changes. The performance was great - assuming it wasn't pre-recorded. But the piece was corny.

Aretha Franklin, however, was off da hook.

Lauren said...

Kinda corny, yes, but also: the timing of that musical interlude was kinda awkward, no? Did we or did we not have a Bush/Biden administration for a few minutes there? After they swore in Biden, I was all "GET ON WITH IT, PEOPLE!"

But maybe that's just me.

e.e.w. said...

I was thinking the exact same thing lauren, Cheney was out, but Bush still in, AWKWARD!!

Kerri said...

i've loved jon favreau for a whole week now, and i can't wait for the second one. sigh...he's a real life sam!