Meet the new boss

Still musing about what the man said in Grant Park to the teeming masses. Still wondering why the scene looked so chilling, as if I'd seen something like that before and it was not a pretty sight.

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.

There it was, the surprise for those who expected a messianic leader who would lift them out of the muck all by his lonesome: He expects something in return. There is a price to pay. Yes, we can require you to serve. Yes, we can require you to sacrifice for the brave new world we promised.

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.

Our new ruler believes not that we are our brother's keeper, because we are; it is inherent in human nature to look after not only ourselves but to help those in need. This is an instinct that needs no government force to fulfill; in fact government efforts to fulfill that role inevitably fall short of the efforts of charity and cheerful giving. But our new ruler does not believe we will be our brother's keeper unless he implements that force in the name of patriotism, in the name of service, in the name of sacrifice.

And if the thousands in Grant Park believed he was someone different from those who came before, he brought his saber to rattle.

To those who would tear the world down: We will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security: We support you.

Oh yes, he followed those words with these reassuring platitudes:

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.

But let there be no mistake, this is a man who believes, like his predecessors, that the US of A is the world's police force. He believes, like his predecessors, the individual exists to serve and sacrifice for the state.

I know what the scene reminded me of, and I hope and pray it's just a disturbing mistake on my part. For now let's just let the man enjoy his victory, his moment of destiny, his triumph of the will.