In my Inauguration Menu post, I expressed my feelings, as a Canadian, of sitting on the sidelines of  history as Obama is sworn in. That feeling is just so Canadian. After all, for decades, we were the quintessential UN "observers" in ceasefire situations.

 Several commenters though urged me to share my views, so here are 10 thinks I am thinking about the Inauguration:

1.  Obama is a great orator, and these troubled times call for inspirational messages.
2. Obama symbolizes change. Some people fear change, but as a student of history, I know that we can look back and learn, but that we can not live in the past, nor relive it.
3. Obama was the candidate, and now becomes the President, of hope, and hope is the beginning of the answer to this crisis. Hope that the future is better than the present, and the past.
4. Obama appeals to what is best in us. This crisis will not be solved by negativity.
5. Obama is an inclusive leader. America has suffered from politics of division. I like the way he emphasizes the "United" States.
6. This presidency may fail in many ways. I agree with Glenn Greenwald that one risk is that inclusion will become too conservative. Obama must not forget the need for bold moves.
7. A forward looking supreme court in step with reality  is essential. Obama's election allows appointments to balance the shift towards excessive conservatism.
8. One of the great opportunities , not to be overlooked because of the economy, is the need for universal health care. America needs not to copy Canada's flawed system, nor fear its flaws. It has the unique opportunity to do it right, create a state of the art system, but one that frees its citizens from worrying about this basic need.
9. America has the opportunity to regain its place as a world leader.
10. Today is one of the rare days I feel a little jealous of my American cousins. I really do have American cousins - grandpa was from Iowa.

Happy Inauguration day, all.... and lets all pray that Obama lives up to his promise, his hopes, his dreams.

We all need it.