If Barack Obama‘s inaugural address could be just six words long, how would it read?
Back in February, we ran a contest asking for a new six-word motto for the U.S. (The winner: “Our worst critics prefer to stay.”) We were riffing off of a then-new book, Not Quite What I Was Planning, which contained six-word memoirs by people from all walks of life.
Now the book’s editors and the National Constitution Center are holding a contest to see who can write the most inspiring six-word incantation for the Obama era. Can you beat “Malice toward none, charity for all” or “Nothing to fear but fear itself”? Give a try here.
Entries will be judged by, among others, Stephen Dubner. (He also contributed to the six-word-memoir book. His entry: “On the seventh word, he rested.”) The deadline is January 5, 2009.
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How about these possibilities:
“Let’s all sing ‘Kum Ba Ya.’”
“Watch while I part the Potomac.”
“America, your new messiah is here.”
“But I wanted a Bud Lite.”
At the risk of plagiarism:
“And now for something completely different.”
“I really am a foreigner, suckers.”
Hope, change, becomes same old politics.
Wouldn’t it be more appropriate for the limitation to be 140 characters or less?
“I am in over my head.”
“Good thing Bill’s staff is here.”
Can’t think of a good Obama one, but here’s a classic for Bush.
“Hold my beer and watch this!”