Inauguration 2009: Wow!

GeoEye-1 Satellite Picture of Capitol taken 1/20/09

Well, we are on the 3rd day of the new administration. I made some notes on Tuesday about what I was seeing and hearing that I think captured the day for me. As a disclaimer, I am a born and raised Democrat from a VERY Republican part of Pennsylvania all the way back to the mid-1950s. I am also a strong civil rights supporter from that era and remember the day of Dr. King's death as one of deep grief. So here goes on this historic day.

• Majestic and elegant. So said Meet the Press moderator David Gregory. I would agree. But that was the "official" ceremony- a part of a great history that deserves that pomp and circumstance. This was not the first to do so. It won't be the last. But beyond that it was a day of amazing celebration. Even those of us Euro-Americans who were there in the 50s and 60s cannot even begin to feel the depths of what this must feel like to our African-American sisters and brothers. THAT celebration which went long into the night was the true experience of the day.
  
• On the news were many stories of sitting and watching the Inauguration in schools. (All we could do in 1960 was listen on the radio.) One interview with a young teenager of color showed a meaning that white males have never had to think twice about. He said, "I want to be President, I really do." After Tuesday he knows it is possible!


• Firm and confident, perhaps as only a "younger" President can be. Over and over I watched Obama especially since the election. Over and over I kept seeing that confidence and firm resolve, no doubt deeply aware of the weight of what he was about to undertake. What came through and is perhaps expressed in the high support ratings is one who shows the ability to do what he was elected to do. The passion involved in that was also quite evident. Yet I never felt he was talking down to us, but challenging us to join with him. A powerful change from many Presidents of both parties.
  
• Harsh realities: worst day for stocks on any Inauguration Day. Not that he needed to be reminded but the Inauguration did not stop bad news. It only highlighted the depth of the economic problems. It seemed to underscore many of his words. (Which I will reflect on and probably blog about next week.)
  
• Tuskegee Airmen and old Civil Rights activists were very obvious even if their numbers have dwindled. The Airmen were of course the African-American pilots from WW II. Their pride at seeing the nation they fought for as part of the greatest generation living up to their support and dreams seemed to make them stand taller and more patriotic than ever.
  
• WE are the rainbow- the promise of hope. I saw that in one of the editorial cartoons on Tuesday with the awareness of the rainbow as God's Promise from Genesis. The WE is the WE of "We the people of these United States." The WE is the crowd gathered on the mall. The WE is the amazing diversity that our nation represents. As an AA saying goes- "We can do what I can't." The truth of Tuesday in more ways than one.
  
• Graceful. That word came to mind during the Inaugural Balls. As he spoke and danced and smiled and joked with his wife at his side their natural grace was refreshing. No, that's not a requirement for being President. Lincoln probably didn't have it physically (but he did in bucket loads inwardly!) Roosevelt had it even as he sat in his wheelchair. The grace I saw was perhaps something we can watch for to become evident, hopefully, in his relations with other nations and peoples. (And the evident love that the Obamas share for each other was exciting and fun. I think that was one thing that George and Laura did have, too.)
  
• Taking time at the Commander-in-chief Ball to do a satellite link with Illinois troops in Afghanistan moved me. He had fun yet clearly wanted people to know he is not anti-military and has never even done anything that would say that. He clearly respected the soldiers and what they were doing. Neat.
  
• Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns (Civil War, WW II, Baseball) was being interviewed the other evening. He was asked that if some of the great speeches of the past were 10s, what was Obama's speech. He said that from his perspective the day on Tuesday was an 11. He said that it was "the beginning of our 3rd act" as a nation. He was of course referring to 1776-1865 as the first act; 1865 - 2009 as the second act; now beginning a completely new era. Someone else also commented that even if Obama ends up being a "bad" president, it will never change the fact that on Tuesday many, many things DID change. Not the least of which hopefully was the move into a new understanding of our nation as diverse and willing to live and work with it.

As I said above I want to reflect on Obama's words on Tuesday and see how I feel by Monday.

P.S. Yes, it was good to take the oath of office again after Roberts' goof. At least that wasn't a first since it has happened twice before.