Solid Foundation

Photo & Text Copyright 2009 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

When you see shots of Seattle's most recognizable landmark this is not normally the part that is featured. With our fog the past number of nights even the base of the Space Needle has been hard to see. I feel like our nation has been in a similar fog. It is built on some strong features that we've allowed to become obscured. My hope is not in our 44th president, but in the renewal of principles he speaks of honoring and the sleeping giant he has helped to awaken and inspire: the better selves of the American people. He appeals to our decency and has given us renewed energy to work hard to restore some basic tenants of a 233 year old democratic republic that have been obscured for a time. I think we as a nation are looking to become our better selves, more of what the promise of this nation encompasses. We have this chance to try to right some major wrongs and strengthen the foundation of a government of, by, and for the people. Starting with the Justice Department's abolishing torture as a state sanctioned practice and shutting down the last administration's end run around basic legal and human rights called Guantanamo, and continuing to lift the fog in every other area of government, policy, and corporate accountability that has been obscured from the light of constitutional law and human decency. Wish us luck and join in our genuine excitement today as we turn a page in history together. We have this moment to change ourselves and become more worthy of the sacrifices and toil of the generations who have gone before us, and more worthy of the friendship and good will of other nations and people around the world. In the words of a brassy 70s funk band from V-Town, "We Can Make It If We Try." Happy Inauguration Day America!

Seattle Celebration Cookies

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Photo & Text Copyright 2009 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

Seattle is gearing up for literally thousands of parties this coming Tuesday, and specialty food suppliers have been getting ready for months. Little Rae's Bakery has followed up its special November election day cookies which featured the likenesses of McCain and Obama with their inauguration celebration offering, " The First Family" shortbread cookies. They seem huge at 4 inches. The president, first lady, daughters and as yet unknown new family dog are pictured in red and blue food coloring. The label reads, "Have a great 4 years!"

I Know We Can Make It

Photo & Text Copyright 2009 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

I was going home one night in mid December past a house that in past years has offered very creative and large lighted Christmas decorations ( the year before it had been "Fa la la la la la la la la" on colorful stacked blocks about as tall as a house). This is what I saw and I only had my cell phone camera at the time. I intended to go back with the real camera and get some decent shots to show you, but we had all that snow and then we were out of town, more snow, yadda yadda. . . I was hoping it was still up when I went back in the fog last night with the real camera and tripod and it was. The home owner has mounted the 3' high letters (made of polyester batting, 3 types of Christmas lights, and some shiny embellishments) on flexible metal fencing grid and hung it from a tree at an angle facing traffic. It lights up the whole street. I'm betting there's a party there next Tuesday night ;^) .

Update: Although folks are probably more likely to crank up the Goo Goo Dolls' "Better Days" as inauguration day gets closer, here are the lyrics to the Pointer Sisters huge hit song Yes We Can from many, many moons ago. Perhaps they will serve to inspire US folks considering following through on the president elect's request that Americans spend a few hours volunteering time and service in their communities on this Monday's national holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's birthday:

Now's the time for all good men
to get together with one another.
We got to iron out our problems
and iron out our quarrels
and try to live as brothers.
And try to find a piece of land
without stepping on one another.
And do respect the women of the world.
Remember you all have mothers.
We got to make this land a better land
than the world in which we live.
And we got to help each man be a better man
with the kindness that we give.
I know we can make it.
I know darn well we can work it out.
Oh yes we can, I know we can can
Yes we can can, why can't we?
If we wanna get together we can work it out.

And we gotta take care of all the children,
the little children of the world.
'cause they're our strongest hope for the future,
the little bitty boys and girls.

We got to make this land a better land
than the world in which we live.
And we got to help each man be a better man
with the kindness that we give.
I know we can make it.
I know darn well we can work it out.
Oh yes we can, I know we can can
yes we can can, why can't we?
If we wanna, yes we can can.