Yesterday was an historic day. Even if you didn’t vote for Barack Obama (and I didn’t), you have to admit that this country did an historic thing by voting in a black man as President. Fifty years ago, this would not have even been thinkable.

The Inauguration had its high points and low points. First, the Good. President Obama’s speech was pretty good. My favorite quote:

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of shortcuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted — for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things — some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.

Unfortunately, there are many in this country who think that the government is not going to step in and take care of all of their needs. We are no longer risk-takers, does and makers, but victims, whiners and wanters.

The Bad.

Elizabeth Alexander’s poem was too little like a poem and too much like a speech. I think there are many that could have written a better tribute to the President and that includes 5th graders.

The Ugly.

If you didn’t wait until the end of the Inauguration before turning off your televisions, you missed the most controversial part. Rev. Joseph Lowery, civil rights activist, gave the benediction. At the end of his “prayer,” Lowery stated:

‘Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get in back, when brown can stick around, when yellow would be mellow, when the red man can get ahead, man; and when white will embrace what is right. That all those who do justice and love mercy say Amen. Say Amen’

After what I thought was a call for unity, that prayer was divisive. It effectively slammed two racial groups “yellow” and “white.” Rev. Lowery seems to forget that without the white and yellow vote, Obama would NOT be President. Obama is not just President of blacks, browns and reds but of whites and yellows too.