President Elect Barack Obama has started out the first day of the inaugural celebrations by taking the train. He is recreating the trip that President Lincoln took in 1861. It is a 137 mile trip from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C. It is a deliberate attempt to rally the citizens of the United States. Obama has called on the American public to rebuild this country and he called for a new declaration of independence. He acknowledged the issues facing this country and said that we need to make a new declaration of independence not only in our country but also in our personal lives. This day is a historic day in our nation and one that needs to be viewed as the kick off to a new beginning.
The things that made this country great when it began can help us to regain it’s strength and pride of achievement if only we can get back to the basics and build upon those things that are the foundation of our country…namely perserverance and ideology according to President Elect Barack Obama.
The train stopped and picked up Sen. Joe Biden and his wife in Wilmington, Delaware with just a small misstep. Joe tried to get on the train to greet Barack and Michelle Obama…but they were not in the caboose when he opened the door. With a trademark self-effacing grin…he stepped back off of the train when informed that the Obama’s would step off the train to the platform for a meet and greet. Slightly awkward…but very “real person-like” moment…not one overly rehearsed and performed like many public figure robots.
Sen. Joe Biden also is acknowledged for his pledge to raise his boys in Wilmington, Delaware after his first wife and daughter were killed in an accident. He has a rich history of his dedication of riding the Amtrack train back and forth from Wilmington to Washington daily so that he could keep his commitment of raising his sons in his hometown.
January 2oth is coming upon us. There is excitement and hope…and an awareness of the work ahead that must be accomplished to put this country back on the right rails to greatness.
Write where you are 