SPECIAL TV TREAT
I have profited today, I feel, from watching and listening to the ceremonies which made Dr. Condoleezza Rice our Sixth-sixth Secretary of State.
The amazing thing was the lack of pomp and yet it was very typical of the way the average American view on such events. So often frills and and meaningless flap doodle attachments only make such official recognition tiresome and devoid of individual associations which are vital to continued significance
Very often conscious attempts to keep[such ceremonies simple come across as having trivialized the subject. A facade is formed which seem to lack sincerity and the producers are accused of trivializing the subject.
The oaths taken during yesterday's ceremonies were not new. They were set, patterned and very serious. They were incantations. They were litanies, in a sense ideals and goals of perfection obtainable. President George W. Bush was also George Bush, Citizen at one and the same time. He and Dr. Rice thanked each other for shared associations and decisions. Each of them voiced special feelings for the outgoing Secretary of State Colin Powell and many of us at home thought prayerful words thanking him as well for work well done in times of war and strife.
I liked the conversational aspects of the exchange of sentiments was especially good and I think many viewers felt better than being faced with formal speeches. We feel a new sense of assurance that here were two people who would be heading up important actions in our government in the future. They knew each other well and would work as a team. Both had "matured" in many ways because they had shared many memorable experiences in the last four years. George Bush speaks and acts with courage and aplomb; Dr. Rice with new confidence and, now, with authority which has some real bite to it.
Fifteen member of the opposition party stood against Dr. Rice becoming Secretary of State. They allowed petty political considerations to warp the common rules of politeness which have made it possible for them to be where they are today. Shame.
A.L.M. January 28, 2005 [c360wds]
