Inauguration Crap

[Oliver]

Right now they're praying again, I hope they get a really awesome meal in return.

 

[DrBaltar]

This version maybe?

OMG... I don't know what to say to that LOL

 

[GlennB]

My Country, 'Tis of Thee.

It came as a shock to this Brit to hear the tune of our national anthem being announced as the US anthem though (on BBC world news, mind you )

The tune was taken from a German hymn, which makes sense as the UK anthem tune pops up quite a bit across Europe. We might even have borrowed from elsewhere.

Anyhoo - that was one stunning speech. Good luck America and please please don't let this man turn out like Tony Blair - self-serving and full of empty promises. But I strongly believe he's made of much better stuff than our Tony.

 

[rdaneel]

Star Wars?

I think your confusing that source with Cheney's theme.

Your right, this is the correct John Williams theme for President Obama.

 

[dudalb]

It came as a shock to this Brit to hear the tune of our national anthem being announced as the US anthem though (on BBC world news, mind you )

The BBC anouncer blew that one.

 

[dudalb]

What was the name of that piece by John Williams? I really liked that.

NM: Air and Simple Gifts

The main theme of that is a old Shaker Hymn,"Simple Gifts". Aaron Copeland made it famous as a main theme in his ballet, "Applachian Spring".
It also achieved some fame during the whole Irish Dance craze of a few years ago as "Lord Of the Dance".
ANd that was sort of an all star team to play it, with the world's greatest Violinist and Cellest to play it.

 

[dudalb]

I could certainly do without the "invocation".

I have a dream--I dream of a United States of America where separation of church and state is a reality.

Define seperation of church and state. If you mean a Government where no mention of God is allowed in any official function, you will never get that in a country where the vast majority of people have religious beliefs of one kind or another. The Government should not play favorites is the best we can hope for.

I agree that the Christian bit in the invocation was inappropriate, though.

 

[maxpower1227]

i think your confusing that source with cheney's theme.

your right, this is the correct john williams theme for president obama.

gaaaahhhhh homophone trouble

 

[DavidJames]

Mulatto, but anyway... no when making the decision on who to elect, I'd look at what he's achieved (a year or 2 in the senate), some work on fund raising with Ayers the terrorist, his communist upbringing, and his socialist plans for America and move him up front and center ahead of people with decades of experience and service to this country.

It must suck being you.

 

[maxpower1227]

The main theme of that is a old Shaker Hymn,"Simple Gifts". Aaron Copeland made it famous as a main theme in his ballet, "Applachian Spring".
It also achieved some fame during the whole Irish Dance craze of a few years ago as "Lord Of the Dance".
ANd that was sort of an all star team to play it, with the world's greatest Violinist and Cellest to play it.

My memory on this is a bit hazy, but in middle school we played an arrangement of Simple Gifts (done by James Swearingen, I believe) called "'Tis A Gift". I remember being told it was a tribute to some band students who died on TWA 800. Whether those details are accurate or not, I liked the arrangement.

 

[Oliver]

Does someone have a playlist of the songs the United States Marine Band played before the inauguration-speeches?

Edit: Never mind, I think I found it...

Inaugural Ceremony

Four Ruffles and Flourishes (The Army Herald Trumpets)

“Hail Columbia” (Marine Band)

Four Ruffles and Flourishes (The Army Herald Trumpets)

James Sanderson “Hail to the Chief” (Marine Band)

John Stafford Smith The National Anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner”

John Philip Sousa* March, “The Stars and Stripes Forever”

E. E. Bagley Retire the Colors, Trio of “National Emblem”

 

[Eskarina]

Rahm Emmanuel and John McCain are seated at the same table during the lunch?

That might make for some interesting {rule 10} conversation?

 

[JoeTheJuggler]

Bolding mine. Now, I applauded at that!

Here's the exact line:

As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals.

Another bit I really liked was this one:

Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please.

 

[DrBaltar]

DavidJames, I'm doing fine thanks. I guess I just tend to blow past all the lofty but empty talk of hope and change and look at the facts. There's not much left, and what is left doesn't sound appealing at all.

 

[Skeptic Guy]

LOL. Actually I dated a girl who played it a lot on her cello.

Is that what the young people are calling it now days?

Here's the exact line:



Another bit I really liked was this one:

It's that sentiment that made me vote for him. I hope he is able to follow through.

 

[Oliver]

So when does the Parade start?

 

[JoeTheJuggler]

Define seperation [sic] of church and state.

How about as a bare minimum, federal money not going toward enterprises that are religious in nature with expressed evangelistic purposes?

I'd also like to forbid public policy based on nothing more than religious beliefs. If there's no greater good to the community (as in the Gag Order that is the Mexico City Policy), religious beliefs should not be allowed to determine policy pertaining to public funds.

And yes, I long for the day when overt religious prayer is not a part of public (i.e. on the public coin) ceremonies. Guess who pays for the web page of the office of the Senate Chaplain? (I'll give you a hint, it's on the domain name "www.senate.gov".) On that page, you can read why all sessions of the Senate are opened with a prayer:

During the past two hundred and seven years, all sessions of the Senate have been opened with prayer, strongly affirming the Senate's faith in God as Sovereign Lord of our Nation.

I know you want to establish a straw man where I'm the bad oppressor seeking to squash people's right to free speech, but it's just not so. I'm a big believer in the First Amendment. Your right to practice your religion is protected.

It should not be a part of officially sanctioned government functions paid for by the taxpayer.

 

[uk_dave]

Apparently Ted Kennedy has collapsed at the inauguration lunch

 

[BazBear]

Maybe he is talking about the news coverage of it. I am watching some of it right now and it's nothing more than commentators saying "Look it's blah blah of blah blah coming down the steps." and other useless banter.

That's why I switched over to the C-SPAN coverage for a bit, no talking heads.

 

[GlennB]

Define seperation of church and state. If you mean a Government where no mention of God is allowed in any official function, you will never get that in a country where the vast majority of people have religious beliefs of one kind or another. The Government should not play favorites is the best we can hope for.

The obvious answer is to make religious references, prayers, songs etc at state events proportional. 60% protestant, 20% catholic, 10% muslim, 5% hindu (or whatever the balance is), with the others getting the occasional chance. So the next prayer at the start of <enter event name here> could be an imam praising allah or somesuch.

Why not? Seems fair to me. And the next time some devout christian golfer comes away from a win praising "the lord" I'll be asking myself yet again how christian folk would feel if a hindu golfer won The Masters full of praise for Ganesh for disappearing a few critical bunkers and creeks at the right time.