We Are One Hits A Homerun

Picasso once said "The Artist is a receptacle for emotions that come from all over the place:  from the sky, from the earth, from a scrap of paper, from the spider's web".  Today in DC, you saw the return of open thought and the accepting of those who are different as Obama gets set to take office on Tuesday.

Barack Obama's celebratory concert at the Lincoln Memorial featured the likes of Beyonce', U2, Usher, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen and others...even Garth Brooks.  It was moving to see the sheer number of Americans who came out to show their support and excitement for the President-Elect.  It was an awesome reminder of that amazing election night victory and the hope he has brought to the country.

For the last 8 years under Bush, we lost our ability to dream, to think about things in the abstract, and to accept those who are different.  We lost our freedoms and changed some of the principles this country was founded on.  Now, September 11 had a lot to do that but so did the leadership of the USA who had their own motivation for silencing the voice of dissent.  The Artist was pushed aside as this country was lead down a dark path that we are now just trying to recover from.  Songs, poems, and paintings won't help us fix the economy - but it can get us into the right frame of mind to begin the process.    

The "We Are One" show reminded me of the 9/11 concert that raised millions for the families affected by the tragedy right after that horrible day.  Unfortunately, our then President took the people's good will as a chance to go to war with a country that didn't attack us - losing all the people who had open hearts and motivated minds to help America recover.  Today, I felt I got my country back.  I'm proud of a President who understands how the Arts can affect our society and open our souls to the idea of the unique.  

Tuesday can't get here fast enough!!