Stories we tell ourselves

"His very presence – that of “a man whose father less than 60 years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath” – was the most obvious of the stories told on this inauguration day."


Thus writes Tim Egan on Obama's speech (below).


I liked that, when I heard it today.


I didn't like though, when Obama said the World is going to be led by Obama, as the NYT editorial puts it. Instead of Mr. Bush’s unilateralism, Mr. Obama said the United States is “ready to lead once more,” by making itself a “friend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity.” He said “our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please.” Mr. Obama told the Muslim world that he wants “a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect.”


 I join Eduardo Galeano from Uruguay, that a few days ago stated that the World does not need a leader.


Obama can set an example, like Che Guevara did many years ago, or Fidel Castro now. Mexico was never Guevarista, nor Castrista, nor will be Obamista. Maybe Zapatista, or Villista, or Carrancista, or Maderista.


Every country and group of people, has a local leader. Global leaders may need to wait until the Messiah comes.


The closest man I consider a leader of the World is Woody Guthrie, whose song, This Land is your Land, was just so well delivered by Pete Seeger, his grandson Tao Rodríguez-Seeger, and all his children on the steps of the Abraham Lincoln Memorial.


Amen