Tuesday's Tribute--some of the people in this country

I had something else planned to tribute today–sorry Jenna–but I was struck by something, as I listened to the inauguration activities on cnn.com. As tends to happen to me, I am stuck on it and probably will be until I get my ranting out

The pure joy and excitement of the people at the inauguration was electric. People who waited in that cold from 4 in the morning and were thrilled to do it just to be a part of this, are inspiring to me. That takes a lot of excitement, a lot of hope and optimism, and dedication. The chants of “Obama” gave me shivers because they sounded so exuberant. The throngs of people, that you could not even see the end of, felt so big it was overwhelming.

What I saw was people who are EXCITED. Whether it is because they are tired of Bush, because they are believers in Obama, whether they just want change–they are feeling something and a lot of it.

I loved it. I loved feeling that just by watching, I was part of it too. Any one or any thing that can generate that level of excitement has something to offer, and I do not care who he is, or why he is there.

Then tonight I went to my regular online forums, mostly horse-related, but who obviously talk about other things. And what do I see? So many nay-sayers, the sky is falling mentalities, “he is not MY president” types. And it sickens me. Not because they have the nerve to not support him–hell, that is the foundation of this country. Right on to that. But because it is so important to them to be chicken littles, so they can say I told you so someday maybe, that they are willing to step all over the little bit of optimism we have seen in years.

These are dangerous attitudes. I think of this much like I do the speculation that fueled the ridiculous gas prices this year. It was not because anything really happened to justify the prices, but because of all the talk about what might happen. I don’t want this to be the same way but I feel like it is....like a wall to being successful is being built by the refusal to think there is no way this administration just might be able to improve our lives. Why would anyone want this change of program to fail–just to say “I told you so?”

That breaks my heart. It is such a downer. Why is it so much more important to be the loudest voice out there screaming that it is all going to hell and can never be fixed than to give just a second’s thought to what it would be like if maybe it wasn’t. And to consider that as a real possibility–or even if you cannot personally, just don’t rain on someone else’s pleasure in looking at things on the sunny side. How many people are ever persuaded by that bad attitude? And if any ever are, what have you really done--convinced someone that things really are awful and that they will never get better? Congratulations to you then--what a valuable service you have provided.

In the midst of all the naysayers, there were a few people who were able to change from anti-Obama positions to saying “it is done now, let’s hope he can do it..I support him in his efforts”. That is who I want to pay tribute to. The people who recognize that this is happening, and they can either hope it works or keep on complaining--those are the people I want around me. We all have our own politics and while I kind of care what yours are (but notice I avoid all discussion of it if possible), what I really care about is your character—and to me, good character is shown by people who want to succeed and want others to succeed. Knowing how far some of the converts (for lack of a better word, I know that is too strong) have come to reach that position makes it even more significant and I appreciate it all the more.

I hope those people know who they are, and that I value their efforts to want things to go right. For those that insist on being miserable and not seeing any light—while I know you have the right to feel that way, I wish you would keep it to yourself. Besides, I heard you the first time. And remember it when things get better–and have the decency to stick to your guns then as hard as you have through all this, and do not avail yourself of the improvements you were so sure would never occur. At least then I could be impressed by something about you–it won’t be your insistence on saying the same thing over and over again and having no faith, but your commitment to your position, no matter how wrong I think it is. I bet you know who you are too.