America, **** Yeah

This post is a reaction to Obama's inaugural address.

I was moved. President Obama hit all the right marks...a return to the founders, a reference to the Declaration of Independence.

Even if you don't believe God gave us the rights upon which our nation is based, Obama reminded us why we love liberalism. Labor brings prosperity and freedom. Technology solves problems. A solid market is the "surest route to the common good." These are the real ideas behind our nation...and perhaps they are not worn as thin as some of us might think.

Obama talked about those important political attributes: prudence, humility, restraint.

He put forth the criteria on which liberal states are judged and let it ring loud for the unconvinced to hear: the resisters are on "the wrong side of history," you are judged by "what you can build."

Most importantly, though, Obama affirmed that the nation stands for and upon eternal truths and virtues and that we "can find meaning in something bigger than ourselves." As he said, there has been a crises in confidence...and I think it often stems from doubting this.

It may be possible that liberalism makes it difficult to focus on the good. President Obama made the case that all faiths and those of no faith are welcome contributions to our country. It is still not entirely clear if those with faiths in something "bigger than themselves" who contradict others of such faiths can all live together in harmony.

President Obama reminded us why we keep trying.