Tomorrow will mark a new remarkable beginning and renewal in the history of our country with the inauguration of Barack Obama, our first African American president.
Beyond the historical significance of Obama's rise, it will also mark an end to the divisiveness, political ideology and rhetoric that has taken this country to the brink of disaster. The Bush Years are over. Thank God. Now, we can all take a collective sigh of relief while realizing the tough road ahead as Obama indicated yesterday at his inauguration concert.
Obama faces a daunting job of reviving a collapsing economy (worst since the Great Depression), ending the war in Iraq, restoring our tattered reputation around the world and restoring dignity and respect to the office of the presidency. Yet Obama is the right man at the right time to help us overcome this bleak economy and bring this country together after so many years of partisanship and divisiveness.
He's already started to move past recent crippling ideology in his cabinet selections and with his willingness to reach out to Republicans in Congress as he readies his agenda to turn the country around.
Here's a poem I wrote a few years ago about what I think about the perils of ideology. I am very hopeful that Obama and his team will avoid the ideological dead ends and battles the Bush Administration so reveled in.
GP
******************************************* LIFE IS TOO BIG FOR IDEOLOGY
Life is too big for empty ideology.
Spirit robbing bureaucrats think they know what is in our hearts.
I've never known an ism, a breathing ideology or a racial slur.
Just human beings frail, broken, feisty, hoping, yearning and fighting for some space and peace of mind.
It is something no ideology ever conceived can seem to provide.
It has been quite an historic week with Barack Obama's amazing ascent to the U.S. Presidency. I think many of us are still stunned that it actually happened, but in one night the real possibility offered by America became so apparent for all to see. Barack's unlikely journey is more than inspirational. It is the great American success story. His rise from humble circumstances will inspire and galvanize countless future leaders in this country and around the world for years to come.
His impact on African Americans can't be measured. Watching Jesse Jackson with tears flowing down his face at Barack's acceptance speech was very moving. Jackson ran for the presidency in 1984 and now he was seeing his dream come true and also his mentor's dream -- Martin Luther King Jr. Jackson witnessed history when he saw King shot down in Memphis more than forty years ago. This week like the rest of us he witnessed history again, but this time it was the culmination of his dream and that of so many other African Americans. No longer would the presidency be locked out to people of color. Obama truly fulfilled King's wish and dream of a man being judged by the content of his character not by the color of his skin.
Living under eight years of misery brought about by the inept, callous, indifferent, greedy, ignorant, reckless Bush Administration is over. We will once again have a president who is thoughtful and who understands the problems we face. It won't easy to clean up the horrible mess the Bush legacy has left this country. But Obama seems the right man at the right time to pull it off. We need to all give him the support he needs regardless of our political views.
In celebration of his historic presidential victory, my songwriting friend Bruce Baert and I have created a YouTube video celebration "Oh! Obama! that had its debut today.
Video was directed by Los Angeles songwriter Bruce Baert, who wrote the lyrics. I produced the song and video and added some lyrics as did Bruce's mother Dorothy Baert. Storyteller Productions in Long Beach, Calif. helped us edit the video. Adding their talents to this project were Los Angeles guitarist and singer Emerson Kris and vocalist Ronna Jones. We recorded the song at Virlouise Studios in Anaheim, Calif.
This video and song truly captures the wonder of Obama's journey. It is story we can all take pride in and inspiration from in our own lives as we seek to regain America's place in the world as a force of true liberty, freedom, justice and opportunity.
Or as our song so aptly puts it..."As always we'll be victorious by Dawn's Early Light."
George Pappas
*** There is more information about this project below
“Oh Obama!” Tribute Song and YouTube Video Seek to Relieve Voters from Long Campaign & Help Americans Revel in Change, Unity and Bottle their American Spirit & Celebrate--From Election Day to Inauguration Day
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – November 8, 2008, – As a lifelong registered Non-Partisan Party member, Los Angeles area songwriter Bruce Baert was and is one of those “independent voters” both political parties court. But Baert, like millions of Americans, grew to admire Democratic nominee Barack Obama’s ideas, ideals, and leadership. Banking on Obama to win the Presidency and make history, Baert was so inspired he said he “had” to write this catchy tribute song about Obama’s rise. He says the “song lyrics combined with the YouTube video are classy, unique, smart, tempered, interesting and engaging--Just like Barack Obama.” The song debuts on Election Day, the video featuring the song launches this week.
Baert, (pronounced “Bear-t”), said: “Americans may wake up after this 21-month election marathon with a 2008 Election Hangover...I want my song to alleviate that and bottle the enthusiasm into an American celebration that begins now and ends on Inauguration Day: Tuesday, Jan., 20, 2009, the day after MLK Day is observed honoring MLK’s would-be 80th Birthday, and the day before so much official hard work begins.” Baert, a former Hillary Clinton supporter, adds: “There will be some serious work ahead to tackle…Barack’s acceptance line should be: ‘We can only get better from here!’”
Some lyrics include: Oh he came from Hawaii with his heart upon his sleeve, He’s goin’ to the White House, the top job in D.C. The man with the funny name, they said he shouldn’t try, “Fear” so taught, eight Bush Years bad, Obama’s Battle Cry. Oh! Obama! Our Nation turns to thee Already making history, along with Hillary. Oh! Obama! You’ll be the first to be, Only in the USA; In the Land of Liberty!
“When someone just gives our song a listen, they will love the words, the tune, the musicianship and singing. It doesn’t get overly political or at all negative, and only mentions Obama, not others. We try to stay above the fray, but enjoy this new time,” Baert said. “Oh! Obama!” is like nothing else out there. It is to the 1848 folksy old standard “Oh! Susanna!” Perhaps ironically, “Oh! Susanna!” was originally sometimes performed by minstrels, a racist tradition, but a product of its time. Baert is a resident of the nearby Los Angeles suburb Whittier, which is former President Richard Nixon’s hometown.
Millions of Americans are weary of the almost two-year U.S. Presidential campaign, yet are excited about the change and fresh start of an Obama Administration. “Doesn’t that sound good? An Obama Administration,” Baert added. This song/video is free online, and it is a non-profit production.
“Who knows? Maybe the Obama-Biden Campaign will play our anthem-like song or maybe Jay Leno or David Letterman,” Baert said.
Baert has a rare hat-trick of election process experience: He has worked as a clerk at and for his local L.A. County precincts as a poll worker, or “paid volunteer” ---for many general elections. He worked as a newspaper reporter writing about some local elections. Finally, he has covered for that newspaper immediate results released at and from the County Registrar’s Office. His mother, Dorothy Baert, passed on to him that tradition, working as a Judge and Inspector at her local voting precinct for tiny, medium and large turnout elections, being cited by the Registrar’s Office for 40 years of service. Dorothy, along with Bruce’s Journalism and college friend George Pappas, wrote additional lyrics for “Oh! Obama!”
“This election is the most polarized we’ve all seen in our lives, man have I argued with people, and they with me,” Baert said, adding: “But Republican or Democrat or another party, they all care, and that’s good and what’s important. This election isn’t just history, it’s Uber-history.”
Please note: • MP3 and/or CD available upon request, and are online. Video on YouTube and DVDs available upon request • Baert and/or others are available for interviews. • Please see attached tribute song lyrics, and also attached original “Oh! Susanna!” song lyrics (for comparison.)
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For more information: Publicist: George Pappas Office: (562) 439-2575 Mobile: (562) 857-5680, Email: gmpwrite@gmail.com
This has been one of the most interesting and important elections of my lifetime. It seems there is so much more at stake after eight long miserable years of living with the misguided policies of the Bush Administration. However, I am very hopeful we will get it right this time with the election of Barack Obama.
Obama has inspired me like no political figure in many years. It is not just his galvanizing speeches and spirited approach, but I believe Obama also shows the intelligence, temperament, fortitude, graciousness and determination to help bring our country back from the brink.
My friend Los Angeles songwriter Bruce Baert has been similarly inspired. However, he wanted to do more to show his support for Obama than pulling the lever in the voting booth or working as a volunteer in this historic election. He decided to add his voice to Obama's growing list of supporters in a unique fashion.
Baert has created a new election tribute song "Oh! Obama!" It is based on the traditional song "Oh, Susanna" with all new lyrics that include Baert's prediction for Obama's victory. The lyrics are clever, classy and timely. I have posted the lyrics at the end of this post.
The track also features stellar performances from L.A. based artists -- guitarist and singer Emerson Kris and vocalist Ronna Jones.
Baert is a former Hillary Clinton supporter that became inspired by Obama in recent months.
Bruce's previous projects have included the tribute songs and videos "Paul McCartney is 64" and "The Crocodile Hunter Tribute."
Oh he came from Hawaii with his heart upon his sleeve, He’s goin’ to the White House, the top job in D.C. The man with the funny name they said he shouldn’t try, “Fear” so taught, eight Bush Years bad, Obama’s Battle Cry.
Chorus #1:
Oh! Obama! Our Nation turns to thee, Already making history, along with Hillary
Wall Street bailout, six-year war, economy downhill, Americans have a dream in sight, we’ll make it up that hill. “Yes” we need Change, new ideas, think outside the box, End divisiveness, Red agin’ Blue, CNN ‘gainst FOX.
Chorus #2:
Oh! Obama! We face a serious plight, “As” Always we’ll be victorious by Dawn’s Early Light.
He’s a-headin’ for that honor, Country bestowed on he, Let’s pray he learns from Lincoln, FDR, and Kennedy. And if we get fooled again, then I’ll surely cry, For those who fought with honor, our Democracy must survive
Chorus #3:
Oh! Obama! You’ll be the first to be… Only in the USA; In-the-Land-of-Liberty! Yee-haw!!!
This has been a long and unpredictable election season. I would have never predicted what has happened, but I couldn't be more pleased. The Bush Years....eight years of misery, cynicism and greed are almost over.
Still, I have no idea how the candidates can endure this constant political warfare.
So as the election nears, I thought I'd post a poem about the emptiness of the election process and what it brings us ultimately.
I hope this time with the election of Barack Obama it will different and that we will finally have someone in the White House again who gives a damn about where this country is heading and wants to do something about it.
Let's certainly hope so.
GP
*****************************************
ELECTION TIME
Am I just a figment of your populist imagination?
Another blurred face in the crowd?
Another voice drowned out by the political process?
You aim your TV commercials at my heart and attempt to inspire my imagination with flaccid speeches.
Hoping to hook us again into believing you'll finally make a difference in our lives.
Until after election time, when we realize we are left like jilted lovers with broken hearts wondering how you rendered us so powerless.
Our pleas and rage die in a vacuum of political expediency.
Washington listens to its own heartbeats as we wonder what could have been and live and die in the shadows of our failed dreams.
Passion drives me. Life to me is a journey full of discoveries and intriguing journeys. Some good, some bad, but you can learn from everything in the end.
My real passion is writing and exploring life as a
novelist, poet and lyricist.
Please check out my recent novel "Monogamy Sucks." It is kind of an edgy male version of "Sex in the City." It makes some interesting comments about monogamy, relationships, casual sex and world of swinging. I launched the first chapter on this blog on May 1. I will then launch a chapter or two each month toward the goal of eventually bringing out the entire book.
My first novel, "Letters from Cyberspace," detailed a twentysomething Mormon woman's Internet sex journey. It is featured on Amazon.com among other sites.
I have also completed the first draft of my third book which has an interesting celebrity twist to it.
Anyway...suffice to say creativity is a huge part of my life...
