Why President Obama's speech moved me.

In the last eight years, our country has been under attack from Islamic radicals, massive hurricanes, and unscrupulous leaders. Leaders more concerned with settling personal grievances, and assuring that America's wealth remained concentrated in the hands of the wealthy and away from the riff-raff in the middle class, than they were with the welfare of of our nation. As a nation we could and did do something about our leaders, This is why I think we are the greatest country on earth. Because we can peacefully make changes in the men who lead us.

When I listen to, and read the words of President Obama's speech I was overcome with emotion. Is it possible, can it be real, do we finally have a leader who understands the issues that keep every-day Americans awake at night? I dare to hope.

I know that "No Child Left Behind" was a back handed attack on teachers unions and had little to do with insuring all of America's children had an adequate education. Our schools have failed our children by forcing teachers to "teach to the test". I believe the speed and effectiveness of the federal response to hurricane Katrina had more to do with the affluence, and color of it's victims than with our ability to react. At the same time, I saw people from all over America do whatever they could to help; put up strangers in their homes, drive to the gulf and volunteer their time and labor, and open their wallets to give hard earned money to complete strangers. This is my idea of patriotism.

I am sure much of this speech was standard boiler plate, but I can still hope our new president spoke from his heart and will work to bring many of the changes (service, education, diplomacy, health care,etc.) into our national reality.