Hell of a speech Obama gave Tuesday night. Emotional and inspirational and a moment that will be remembered by anyone watching. He walked out on stage like he always knew it was coming, cool and composed. One of Obama’s strengths is his free-flowing smooth charismatic voice. He’s smart and calm, a natural.

And, above all, I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation, the only way it’s been done in America for 221 years — block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.

This victory alone is not the change we seek. It is only the chance for us to make that change.  And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It can’t happen without you, without a new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice.So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism, of responsibility, where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves but each other.

In other words, ” ‘Ask what you can do for your country’. And then do it.” This is a call to work, phrased in a request to join in the effort in the American tradition, and in so making the call, Obama implicitly acknowledges that the country has slid from its principles. It will be interesting to see if America will be on board with the Obama message culturally because from the ”me” decade to today, America has been on a steadily accelerating slide of supercharged consumptive superficial distraction turning life into a real time version of ”Are you hot?” Today we want to be entertained; we want it all and we want it now… for ourselves.  So Obama’s notions of ”Service”? And sacrifice?” “And unity?” Those are tough concepts to swallow in modern times.

And even tougher to sell. (”The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep.”) But starting with this speech, so far he’s hitting the right notes. And masterfully: (”And to all those who have wondered if America’s beacon still burns as bright: Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope.”) 

 Sacrifice is hard. Real change is hard (”…the enormity of the task that lies ahead”). Real change comes from within and Obama taking office won’t magically lower your cholesterol or improve your kids’ grades, but politics aside, Obama’s message and more so, his delivery, may inspire each person to better themselves. I think that’s where his real power is. 

This is our time, to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth, that, out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope. And where we are met with cynicism and doubts and those who tell us that we can’t, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can.

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