Witnessing the spectacle
As I stood in the frigid cold on the National Mall bearing witness to the historic inauguration of the 44th and first African American President, Barack
Hussein Obama, I had to scratch myself … just couldn’t believe this was actually happening. While standing in the midst of the two million revelers, I thought
about how the images of a Black man leading the most powerful nation would be well received and positively impact the rest of the world. I was proud of the
fact that President Obama had sent for his fraternal grandmother to have her by his side to witness the spectacle of her grandson being sworn in as the next
President of the United States of America. As I looked across the mass of humanity, it was quite apparent that this was an Inauguration that looked like none
other in our nation’s history. It was the largest number of people ever assembled for this occasion and at least 80 percent of them were African American. There
were young people, old people from every state in the union and also a number of foreigners who came to witness the spectacle. Never has there been such
wonderful diversity and with exquisite expressions of happiness.
Just as was the case on the night that Barack was elected, I didn’t want the moment to end. The entire event was historic and went off without a hitch. The
redo of Abraham Lincoln’s Whistle-Stop Train ride from Philadelphia to Washington was celebrated by thousands of happy Americans who wanted a glimpse of
the new President. The concerts at the Lincoln Memorial with an all star line-up drew a crowd of an estimated half-million revelers. Barack Obama speech
there was short and succinct. A touching moment occurred when, after he finished his remarks, his daughter Malia gave a “well done” to Daddy.
The Inauguration signaled the changing of the guard — bringing out the old and replacing it with the new. When President Bush and Vice President Dick
Cheney were introduced, they were booed loudly by crowd. When Bush’s helicopter left the White House after the Inauguration, it circled the White House and
flew the length of the National Mall. At that moment, all heads looked up to the sky and then the crowd began singing in unison the lyrics “Na, na, na, na, hey,
hey, hey, goodbye!”
As Obama was being sworn-in taking the Oath of Office, I felt goose bumps all over my body. People all around me were hollering, screaming and crying in
jubilation. Obama hit a grand slam with his Presidential Address. He told the nation and the world that there is new leadership that will move the country in a
new direction. He painted a sharp contrast to the previous administration. He refused to take the bogey-man approach to politics — particularly the strategy that
centered around the fear of terrorism. He, in fact, didn’t even use the word in the text of his speech. He acknowledged the huge challenges that face the nation
with the fiscal crisis and rising unemployment and he asked the American people to sacrifice and work hard. Obama never directly mentioned Bush’s name
after thanking him for his service to the nation. In a clear reference to the Bush Administration, Obama criticized “our collective failure to make hard choices
and prepare the nation for a new age.” He promised to “restore science to its rightful place.” He rejected “as false the choice between our safety and our ideals.”
He assured the rest of the world “that we are ready to lead once more.” It must have been humiliating for Bush and his team to sit through all of this in the biting
cold.
The motorcade and the parade were also very impressive. It was nice to see so many marching bands from Historically Black Colleges and Universities
represented. Just as was the case with the Whistle-Stop train tour, I was concerned that Obama may have been too lax in putting himself in harms way as he got
out of the car and walked on at least a couple of occasions along Pennsylvania Avenue as he made his way to the White House.
A wonderful occasion was finally brought to a close as the President and Michelle danced their way through a dozen different Balls. Obama has proven
that there is yet another way that he is unique; he is probably the smoothest dancer to ever inhabit the White House!
Hussein Obama, I had to scratch myself … just couldn’t believe this was actually happening. While standing in the midst of the two million revelers, I thought
about how the images of a Black man leading the most powerful nation would be well received and positively impact the rest of the world. I was proud of the
fact that President Obama had sent for his fraternal grandmother to have her by his side to witness the spectacle of her grandson being sworn in as the next
President of the United States of America. As I looked across the mass of humanity, it was quite apparent that this was an Inauguration that looked like none
other in our nation’s history. It was the largest number of people ever assembled for this occasion and at least 80 percent of them were African American. There
were young people, old people from every state in the union and also a number of foreigners who came to witness the spectacle. Never has there been such
wonderful diversity and with exquisite expressions of happiness.
Just as was the case on the night that Barack was elected, I didn’t want the moment to end. The entire event was historic and went off without a hitch. The
redo of Abraham Lincoln’s Whistle-Stop Train ride from Philadelphia to Washington was celebrated by thousands of happy Americans who wanted a glimpse of
the new President. The concerts at the Lincoln Memorial with an all star line-up drew a crowd of an estimated half-million revelers. Barack Obama speech
there was short and succinct. A touching moment occurred when, after he finished his remarks, his daughter Malia gave a “well done” to Daddy.
The Inauguration signaled the changing of the guard — bringing out the old and replacing it with the new. When President Bush and Vice President Dick
Cheney were introduced, they were booed loudly by crowd. When Bush’s helicopter left the White House after the Inauguration, it circled the White House and
flew the length of the National Mall. At that moment, all heads looked up to the sky and then the crowd began singing in unison the lyrics “Na, na, na, na, hey,
hey, hey, goodbye!”
As Obama was being sworn-in taking the Oath of Office, I felt goose bumps all over my body. People all around me were hollering, screaming and crying in
jubilation. Obama hit a grand slam with his Presidential Address. He told the nation and the world that there is new leadership that will move the country in a
new direction. He painted a sharp contrast to the previous administration. He refused to take the bogey-man approach to politics — particularly the strategy that
centered around the fear of terrorism. He, in fact, didn’t even use the word in the text of his speech. He acknowledged the huge challenges that face the nation
with the fiscal crisis and rising unemployment and he asked the American people to sacrifice and work hard. Obama never directly mentioned Bush’s name
after thanking him for his service to the nation. In a clear reference to the Bush Administration, Obama criticized “our collective failure to make hard choices
and prepare the nation for a new age.” He promised to “restore science to its rightful place.” He rejected “as false the choice between our safety and our ideals.”
He assured the rest of the world “that we are ready to lead once more.” It must have been humiliating for Bush and his team to sit through all of this in the biting
cold.
The motorcade and the parade were also very impressive. It was nice to see so many marching bands from Historically Black Colleges and Universities
represented. Just as was the case with the Whistle-Stop train tour, I was concerned that Obama may have been too lax in putting himself in harms way as he got
out of the car and walked on at least a couple of occasions along Pennsylvania Avenue as he made his way to the White House.
A wonderful occasion was finally brought to a close as the President and Michelle danced their way through a dozen different Balls. Obama has proven
that there is yet another way that he is unique; he is probably the smoothest dancer to ever inhabit the White House!