THANK YOU EUROPE
THANK YOU EUROPE for not claiming copyright on this American song, which is now in the public domain, as performed at a historic civic event on the steps of a publicly owned memorial…
(AND THANK YOU, ABK from the comments, for bringing it to my attention)
YESTERDAY ON WNYC, our local public radio station, a woman called the Brian Lehrer show to say that she supported Obama, but she did not feel comfortable with the idea of America throwing itself a big party.
I HAVE NEVER FELT MORE LIKE AN ANGRY FOX NEWS HOST than when I was listening to that call. If you can’t celebrate America today, when can you?
EVEN IF YOU IGNORE the generations’ worth of work and suffering that made this historically unprecedented moment possible…
EVEN IF YOU IGNORE the sheer, humbling, novelistic beauty of the electorate making arguably the most implausible choice available to it, at arguably the most critical time…
AND EVEN IF YOU IGNORE that this choice was the ONE WE WANTED, the caller and I, and even if it had gone the other way…
EVEN PETE SEEGER knows (having said so on the same radio station this morning) that there is still enough to feel proud of in a peaceful transition of power. There is enough to be glad of in the power of our vote, and what potential is contained within that power, even in the bleakest, most imperfect times, so long as we keep faith with it.
AND FRANKLY, if Pete Seeger–em-er eff-ing PETE SEEGER, who never stopped singing for his land–feels that the day is worth celebrating, then I, at least, will sing along.
That is all.
Hear, hear!
Comment by Trelvix — January 20, 2009 @ 10:27 am
I think one of the most important thing Americans can do right now is reclaim the ideas of patriotism and love of America for all Americans, not just the knee-jerk right wing. There’s no point in changing America for the better if we don’t fully acknowledge why it’s worth loving and nurturing to begin with.
Comment by Dreadful_Rauw — January 20, 2009 @ 10:33 am
I was just about comment the same thing. Nicely put!
Comment by Jess — January 20, 2009 @ 10:34 am
Well put. We deserve a party, since across the globe peaceful transitions seem few and far between.
Pete Seeger is just an inspiring soul. Eighty-nine, and leading a sing-a-long with all those people the same way he would a group of ten. He believes not in one person, not in a party, not in an administration, but in America.
Comment by Amanda — January 20, 2009 @ 10:37 am
[waves tiny flag]
Comment by Michael Barrett — January 20, 2009 @ 11:08 am
[...] When you mess up, then spend four years saying OH MY GOD WE MESSED UP, then do it again because people managed to convince you that your homophobia was more important than common sense, and then you finally, almost miraculously, manage to get it right, or at least as right as you could under the circumstances, you have not earned the right to pat yourself on the back and throw yourself a party. Even if John Hodgman says you can. [...]
Pingback by danconley.net » Blog Archive » Time to be a downer — January 20, 2009 @ 12:48 pm
Well put, Mr. Hodgman. I like the way you think.
Comment by Colleenky — January 20, 2009 @ 12:53 pm
If “party” means Pete Seeger, then parties are pretty good. But when “party” means wearing pajamas and dipping into a chocolate fountain with Mo Rocca and Carrie Fisher (http://www.bestweekever.tv/2009/01/19/heres-the-one-obama-party-were-actually-jealous-of-not-attending/), parties are silly and weird and a little creepy.
Comment by Jeremy — January 20, 2009 @ 1:25 pm
I agree full-heartedly.
I was only able to listen to the ceremony, but couldn’t help myself.
I got excited.
For the first time in my life, I got excited about something happening in Washington.
Comment by Aron — January 20, 2009 @ 2:14 pm
What is this “You Europe” we should be thanking?
Comma before a direct address, Hodgman. Because there is a difference between “eat, my friends” and “eat my friends”.
Comment by Teaflax — January 20, 2009 @ 4:21 pm
Patriotism is not the same thing as jingoism.
I feel like buying a flag for my house today.
Thanks for finding a non-broken link to this. I’ve likely drowned my keyboard in tears of joy.
Comment by Chris W. — January 20, 2009 @ 7:08 pm
I know what you mean. I appreciate the massive extravaganza every time a different party comes into power in Great Britain or Japan or Canada. I will admit I was a bit disappointed that Merkel didn’t have a huge rally to celebrate becoming German Chancellor through a peaceful transfer of power. If Berlin couldn’t accommodate the crowds and they wanted to avoid having it in Bonn so they wouldn’t inadvertently insult the former East Germans, they could have held it at a neutral site like Nuremburg. Sure, there’s no ready-made venue like our National Mall but I’m sure they could have done something with lighting to give a feeling of a shared space. All Germans could have come together and put the disputes of the election behind them by hailing her victory in unison. Then they could have made a long series of speeches about the greatness of the German people. How could anybody see anything negative in something like that?
Comment by Mojo — January 20, 2009 @ 8:13 pm
Also, if we didn’t celebrate, we would have missed the brief appearance of Old Man Potter on stage, which reaffirms that Jimmy Stewart movies are in fact the standard we should live by.
Comment by Bridget Callahan — January 21, 2009 @ 12:10 am
[...] weren’t choked up or otherwise welling up with some sort of visceral reaction, why not give Pete & the Boss a go. It might help if you grew up with that song and/or have been looking forward to this [...]
Pingback by change we can believe in « まだ分からへん — January 21, 2009 @ 10:59 am
Well, I’ve gots me the goosepimples from watching that. My goosepimples have never had such a workout as they’ve had this week, as I think about it.
Comment by Wincey — January 22, 2009 @ 12:01 pm
Well, someone claimed copyright on it apparently.
Comment by Roninspoon — January 27, 2009 @ 6:56 pm
buy soma 120 no prescription…
soma diesel flowering time. soma online. soma 350 mg. buy soma. buy soma online no prescription. drug test soma. buy soma online. …
Trackback by discount soma — September 14, 2009 @ 4:58 pm
is tamiflu dangerous…
tamiflu veterinary. pharmacist role in flu prevention tamiflu. tamiflu and effectiveness and safety. cost of tamiflu. tamiflu side effects. tamiflu purchase avian bird flu. tamiflu didn’t cure. tamiflu side effects japan. tamiflu lead investigator. co…
Trackback by info on tamiflu — September 14, 2009 @ 4:58 pm
tamiflu and happy feet…
pharmacist role in flu prevention tamiflu. side effects of tamiflu. tamiflu and cystic fibrosis. tamiflu directions. flu symptoms and tamiflu. …
Trackback by tamiflu while breastfeeding — September 14, 2009 @ 6:17 pm
tamiflu has thermisol…
tamiflu and happy feet. . tamiflu. tamiflu not effective h5n1. …
Trackback by tamiflu warnings — September 14, 2009 @ 6:23 pm
soma overnight cheap…
soma overnight. soma drug history. soma fm. soma waterbed mattress. …
Trackback by prescription soma — September 14, 2009 @ 6:24 pm
free cash online casino promotion…
free no deposit online casino bonus. free online casino http. casino casinos online. free online casino tournaments. gambling casino online bonus. …
Trackback by free online casino http — September 14, 2009 @ 6:27 pm
soma discount code…
soma coupon. prescription soma. soma side effects. soma cube. soma overnight cheap. side effects of soma. …
Trackback by buy soma — September 14, 2009 @ 7:46 pm
tamiflu injections…
tamiflu 75. tamiflu dosage for influenza. tamiflu 75. tamiflu what if miss dose. tamiflu cost. tamiflu and effectiveness and safety. feline panleukopenia tamiflu. tamiflu what if miss dose. …
Trackback by pharmacist role in flu prevention tamiflu — September 15, 2009 @ 1:31 am
soma withdrawal…
soma fm. soma waterbed sheets. soma mattress. soma snakeoil. soma purchase. order soma. …
Trackback by soma withdrawal — September 15, 2009 @ 3:31 am
pediatric tamiflu…
view tamiflu happy feet advertisement. tamiflu cost. tamiflu 75. tamiflu stable. tamiflu side effects. …
Trackback by cost of tamiflu — September 15, 2009 @ 5:02 am
buying soma without a prescription…
soma discount codes. buying soma without a prescription. buy soma online without rx. soma cod. fda soma 250 mg. soma bike frame. soma dosage. soma snakeoil. soma groove. …
Trackback by soma overdose — September 15, 2009 @ 8:05 am
discount soma…
soma intimates. soma diesel flowering time. soma. effects of soma. …
Trackback by soma without a prescription — September 15, 2009 @ 7:51 pm
online casino betting…
soma on line. soma silk. soma withdrawal. cheap watson soma online. soma description. soma no prescription. online casino no deposit bonus codes. golden casino online http. best online casino sign up bonus. online casino internet gambling. online casin…
Trackback by online casino open to usa http — September 15, 2009 @ 10:04 pm
snorting soma…
cod soma. akane soma lasvegas. soma purchase. …
Trackback by buy soma with online prescription — September 16, 2009 @ 3:32 pm
pyrrolidinone ephedrine synthesis…
free online casino game. best online casino bonus. free online casino games http. online casino gambling http. online casino internet gambling. beat ephedrine testing. vaspro ephedrine. ephedrine plus. ephedrine p-57. ephedrine hcl. …
Trackback by bolt ephedrine — September 17, 2009 @ 9:44 am
casino mania online…
the best online casino. casino casinos online. free online casino tournaments. free online casino slots. best online casino http. highest paying online casino. online casino. online casino blackjack. online casino games. …
Trackback by free online casino gaming — September 20, 2009 @ 4:48 pm
find online casino…
online casino guide http. online casino directory. casino gambling online. online casino blackjack. online casino gaming. online casino roller. …
Trackback by online casino links — September 20, 2009 @ 6:56 pm
online casino gaming…
btdino casino online. casino online apuestas. online casino betting. online casino gaming. online casino best online casino. online casino. internet casino online. …
Trackback by online casino roller — September 25, 2009 @ 2:35 pm
no deposit casino codes…
Just bored, you know how it is on a Monday , so I thought I would see if my site came up in the search engine, I typed in no deposit casino codes and instead of mine I got Best online Free casino to play Blackjack for real/practice …. I guess your …
Trackback by no deposit casino codes — September 28, 2009 @ 9:22 am
where to buy old movies…
Thanks for the information. Any other posts or blogs you can recommend on where to buy old movies?…
Trackback by where to buy old movies — October 1, 2009 @ 7:02 am
free adult phone dating…
. . . . bbw adult dating. adult dating services only top sites. meet adult chicks for dating. adult dating sites. …
Trackback by free online adult dating — October 1, 2009 @ 7:27 am
order tramadol…
. . . . bbw adult dating. adult dating services only top sites. meet adult chicks for dating. adult dating sites. tramadol withdraw. tramadol hci. ingredients in tramadol. tramadol abuse. tramadol medication. …
Trackback by tramadol medication — October 1, 2009 @ 7:28 am
casino’s…
Your topic Online Casino Slots Gallery : Casino King on Air in the UK was interesting when I found it on Thursday searching for casino’s…
Trackback by casino's — October 1, 2009 @ 10:24 am
barnes noble online coupon…
It is amazing that you wrote a decent blurb regarding While the Economy Was Crumbling… | Labelscar: The Retail …. I just did a quick search on barnes noble online coupon and was surprised how accurate you were. Nice job!…
Trackback by barnes noble online coupon — October 1, 2009 @ 3:10 pm
online casino sportsbooks…
online casino tournaments. juegos online casino. online casino free bonus. online casino games. online casino links. …
Trackback by free casino games online — October 2, 2009 @ 11:11 pm
GoPiano…
Megacool Blog indeed!… if anyone else has anything it would be much appreciated. Great website Enjoy!…
Trackback by GoPiano — October 7, 2009 @ 1:16 am
Grand-Pianos.org…
Thanks heaps for this!… if anyone else has anything, it would be much appreciated. Great website HOT Pianoforte Links http://www.en.Grand-Pianos.org Enjoy!…
Trackback by Grand-Pianos.org — October 13, 2009 @ 5:26 am
PianoTrade…
Thanks heaps for this!… if anyone else has anything, it would be much appreciated. Great website HOT Pianoforte Links http://www.en.Grand-Pianos.org Enjoy!…
Trackback by PianoTrade — October 13, 2009 @ 7:52 am
buy movies…
Your topic Trackback Tips for Successful Blogging was interesting when I found it on Wednesday searching for buy movies…
Trackback by buy movies — October 14, 2009 @ 12:11 am
what is the action of tamiflu…
. . . . . tamiflu dosage for influenza. otc tamiflu. tamiflu resistance. tamiflu injections. tamiflu didn’t cure. tamiflu what if miss does. what is the action of tamiflu. buy tamiflu. …
Trackback by what is the action of tamiflu — October 14, 2009 @ 9:49 pm
adult dating site…
Even the gurus will agree with what is being said here. I am glad I found it….
Trackback by adult dating site — October 15, 2009 @ 4:03 am
dating sites in the uk…
I REALLY liked your post and blog! It took me a little bit to find your site…but I book marked it. Would you mind if I but a link back to my site?…
Trackback by dating sites in the uk — October 17, 2009 @ 6:03 am
free online games sites…
. Many blogs have stopped using trackbacks because dealing with spam became too burdensome. This is similar to comment spam but avoids…
Trackback by free online games sites — October 19, 2009 @ 1:03 am
PianoMan…
Thanks heaps for this!… if anyone else has anything, it would be much appreciated. Great website HOT Pianoforte Links http://www.de.Grand-Pianos.org Enjoy!…
Trackback by PianoMan — October 24, 2009 @ 10:02 am
tramadol…
tramadol…
Trackback by tramadol — October 27, 2009 @ 9:40 am
free casino online…
tramadolonline casino slots http. new online casino. online casino s. grand online casino. casino free online. …
Trackback by golden casino online http — October 31, 2009 @ 4:57 am
Le Pianoforte…
Thanks heaps for this!… if anyone else has anything, it would be much appreciated. Great website HOT Pianoforte Links http://www.fr.Grand-Pianos.org Enjoy!…
Trackback by Le Pianoforte — November 14, 2009 @ 5:17 am
adult parties…
Your topic ” Block Party was interesting when I found it on Sunday searching for adult parties…
Trackback by adult parties — December 6, 2009 @ 1:10 am
Change Me…
I was looking some online massive games to start to get into profit mode. On Sunday I took a look at your post on Good Evening ” THANK YOU EUROPE and it was very informative, thanks you….
Trackback by Change Me — December 20, 2009 @ 1:31 am
James Raymond…
Why is it that we execute our free speech, and yet we still get verbally slammed for speaking our mind?…
Trackback by James Raymond — December 22, 2009 @ 9:12 am
free adult games…
[...] Good Evening ” THANK YOU EUROPE [...]…
Trackback by free adult games — December 26, 2009 @ 9:20 pm
discount movies…
Even the gurus will agree with what is being said here. I am glad I found it….
Trackback by discount movies — January 6, 2010 @ 6:04 am
movies free…
Even the gurus will agree with what is being said here. I am glad I found it….
Trackback by movies free — January 9, 2010 @ 10:00 am
Change Me…
One the best sites I visited today %URL%…
Trackback by Change Me — January 18, 2010 @ 9:27 am
old movies…
Great information. I will surely drop by Good Evening ” THANK YOU EUROPE again soon….
Trackback by old movies — January 18, 2010 @ 11:00 am
free internet movies…
I enjoy reading your blog on Good Evening ” THANK YOU EUROPE. I will surely pop by again….
Trackback by free internet movies — January 18, 2010 @ 6:00 pm
Resource Guy…
My! I looked for online coupon pages and found your Save Money Online with CouponChief | i.nconspicuo.us today…Friday Ok I know I am confused, but doesnt this site say pretty much the same?…
Trackback by Resource Guy — January 22, 2010 @ 12:25 pm