One of the most moving lines for me from Obama’s inauguration speech was this:

“We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus, and nonbelievers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth.

And because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect.

To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict or blame their society’s ills on the West, know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy.”

It was both a bold criticism of tribal feuding in the Middle East, Africa and elsewhere (here?), and a call for all people to “choose our better history” (another of my favorite lines).  Check out this guy’s editorial at Huff Po for some more thoughts on the lines of tribe.