I'd like to share some thoughts about today's inauguration of President Barack H. Obama. The first inauguration that I remember was the 1961 inauguration of President John F. Kennedy. I was about Parly and Lily's age. I became interested in presidential politics because my Grandma Reeder (Lula) was at one time an elected official. She was the elected Deputy County Clerk for Box Elder County for many years. My grandfather (her husband---Joseph Martin) died of a typhoid epidemic just two weeks before my dad was born. She was left with 6 children and no income. She raised that family by herself, much of the time during the "Great Depression." Eventually she found work with the county and later won election, running as a democrat, to a position she held for many years. By the time I came along she was just Grandma Reeder but her interest in politics was evident to me even though I was just a lad. Anyway, I remember going to her house (it was next door) the morning after the 1960 election. She was listening to election results on the radio. I remember her commenting positively on the young president elect from Massachusetts. Back to the inauguration---our third grade teacher (Miss Jones) made arrangements with a family who lived next to the school for our class to go to their home and watch President Kennedy take the oath of office (the school didn't have a television---can you believe that?). I remember very well his famous speech when he said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." One of my friends was miserable. I thought he must be sick so I asked him if I could do anything for him. He replied, "I'll be sad for eight more years, don't try to cheer me up." I had to go home and ask my dad why my friend was going to be sad for eight years. Turns out his dad was the chairman of the county republican party.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Inauguration 2009
I'd like to share some thoughts about today's inauguration of President Barack H. Obama. The first inauguration that I remember was the 1961 inauguration of President John F. Kennedy. I was about Parly and Lily's age. I became interested in presidential politics because my Grandma Reeder (Lula) was at one time an elected official. She was the elected Deputy County Clerk for Box Elder County for many years. My grandfather (her husband---Joseph Martin) died of a typhoid epidemic just two weeks before my dad was born. She was left with 6 children and no income. She raised that family by herself, much of the time during the "Great Depression." Eventually she found work with the county and later won election, running as a democrat, to a position she held for many years. By the time I came along she was just Grandma Reeder but her interest in politics was evident to me even though I was just a lad. Anyway, I remember going to her house (it was next door) the morning after the 1960 election. She was listening to election results on the radio. I remember her commenting positively on the young president elect from Massachusetts. Back to the inauguration---our third grade teacher (Miss Jones) made arrangements with a family who lived next to the school for our class to go to their home and watch President Kennedy take the oath of office (the school didn't have a television---can you believe that?). I remember very well his famous speech when he said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." One of my friends was miserable. I thought he must be sick so I asked him if I could do anything for him. He replied, "I'll be sad for eight more years, don't try to cheer me up." I had to go home and ask my dad why my friend was going to be sad for eight years. Turns out his dad was the chairman of the county republican party.
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3 comments:
Is the "ask not what your country can do for you" sound bite comparable to "get ourselves up and dust ourselves off." Just wondering. I did, however, think that Pres. Obama's speech was fantastic. He's quite a writer. Maybe we should have him on the blog as a guest blogger.
It seems as if politics runs in the family. It would be a shame if Lula Burt was the last one from our line to hold political office (our line, not Dean's). I nominate Dad. I think that he could take on Jake Zollinger for the River Heights mayoral race. It might get ugly, but considering Dad's Democrat background, he might get Daina on his side, then it will be a straight shot to the RH Mayoral Mansion/Shack.
I was sick that day so I was home from work and I was excited for the day's festivities. I got about 23 minutes in and had to turn the channel. I am excited about Obama as much as the next guy but I can only tolerate so many camera shots to Hollywood and the "Na na na na, hey hey hey goodbye" song to Bush as he flew away in the helicopter was too much for me to stomach.
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