Inauguration Day

What. A. Day.

To put it simply. Before I start commenting, opining, or otherwise sharing a host of random stories, my schedule was easy. I stayed home to watch the speech for one reason - I actually wanted to hear the darn thing. I didn't figure I'd hear it too well on the jumbo-trons the event planners had set up, nor did I want to wait to hear it til much later. Immediately upon the closing of the speech, I headed out to enjoy this day of history and see what it all looked like.

It was incredible, to say the least. Stepping back from the pomp, circumstance, and speech for a moment to consider the moment of history that was created yesterday. Regardless of your opinion of the man, or the presidential potential of him, yesterday was a defining moment in American history with an African-American man being sworn in as president. With the United States being in the unique position of one of the world's superpowers for many, many, many years running, to never have a man of any color (or a woman!!!) in this symbolic place of power is rather appalling. But, it has finally happened and we have all been alive to witness this day. He may not be what you voted for, he may not be what you want, but this is a bold step for our society, one that is necessary and can continue the work that was halted of shaking off the dregs of racial divisions and hatred. (Below - walking the streets, the crowd coming up... 18th? 16th? The streets started to blur)

The sheer amount of people that came into our nation's capital yesterday was unprecedented. Every guesstimate of how many would arrive so far underscored the actual numbers that it is incredible. Millions of people found their way to DC to give their support, honor, awe, and hope to this one man. It was a peaceful day, a day without hatred, a day without violence, and a day full of smiles -- a phenomenon rare in these times of economic worry, rampant wars, and domestic issues that continue to plague our citizens. (To the right, walking down the middle of the street!!!)


Monday was Martin Luther King Jr. Day and yesterday I was reminded of him and his words. Yes, the infamous, "I have a dream", but more, "A man who won't die for something is not fit to live". MLK Jr. did die for something; he died fighting for this day to happen. Wherever he is, I hope he can rest in peace knowing that this struggle is still ongoing, but a battle has been won.

I have my cynicisms (noted in the last, and most likely next, blogs) about this man, but I would with any other coming into office. These are troubled times and I do sincerely hope that President Obama can help effect the change that is so direly needed and necessary to help this country bounce back, stand on its on two feet of economic prosperity and pride -- with new additions of humility and hope.

We are all a part of this process and we can only do as much as we can do - which is hopefully everything in our power - because we do have power. This power was represented yesterday in this city of millions. We made our voices heard in the election (yes, I'll note that I did in fact vote for and support Obama - healthy cynicism and all) and we made our voices heard yesterday in showing that he is still the man for the job, that doubt has not prevailed, that hope is still present. (To the right - the mass of people waiting to get on the Dupont Circle metro station)

Welcome to the White House and Washington D.C. Mr. President... I wish you luck.

Pre-Inauguration Day Insanity

And we are heading into the final hours of Bush's reign of terror. I kid, I kid. Although the final hours part of that equation is entirely truthful. Being here in DC and seeing the insane mass of people has made things quite interesting - much less getting anywhere takes an extra few hours.

Call me cynical, but I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop. Reading articles about people who have all this hope that Obama will be able to turn things around in a heartbeat... he just can't, hell, God himself couldn't. This country is in a hole that is not going to be dug out of particularly easily. There are wars left and right, an economic shithole, and domestic issues up the wazoo. This is not to say that Obama does not have his strong points, but the sheer amount of hope for immediate change seems unfounded. People are hailing his progressive nature, his grassroots connections, and I'm sitting here thinking the man and his team are a bunch of brilliant masterminds because absolutely nobody is capable of being that good to turn this country around in a hot minute. What his true strengths are, we have yet to find out. With so little experience and so little time to know who he is, we'll learn in the coming days what we've gotten ourselves into and whether or not this one man is as good in his actions as he is in his words.

I was going to go to the mall to hear his speech, but I won't be able to hear it in a crowd, so I'll explore, then be home for the actual speech because I want to hear what he has to say (and not a few hours later). After that, who knows what I'll explore. This day is epic, not just where he's at, but for this city as a whole.

I'm interested to see what he does, what decisions he makes first, where he will lead this country.

But at the end of the day, my inclinations are that this is only one man. Yes, he is "in charge" of the "super-power" of the world, but he is still only a man. He is not infalliable and he is not without his faults. We will see them in the days to come, I just hope that people give him enough of a chance to show his strengths... whatever they may actually be.