History: Standing Room Only
Today, I joined a crowd of 2 million people on the National Mall to witness the Inauguration of President Obama. At the base of the Washington Monument, I watched what is, to be sure, a milestone – neither the beginning or end of a journey, but the beginning of a historic presidency, and an amazing moment.
With friends from swimming at RIT, I journeyed out this cold morning to gather in anticipation of the Inauguration. It was a very cold morning, but every bit worth the experience.
Watching on the Jumbotron and listening to the speakers, we watched the arrival of celebrities, politicians and dignitaries. We listened to prayers and beautiful music – the performance of “Simple Gifts” by Yo-Yo Ma, Anthony McGill, Gabriela Montero and Itzhak Perlman was amazing, and my breath caught in my throat.
The oath of office flew by. President Obama’s inaugural address was inspiring, moving. (I am still very cold and tired, as I didn’t sleep much last night, so you’ll have to bear with my limited vocabulary at the moment.) The speech was a perfect indication of why I believed Sen. Barack Obama should be president, why he inspired me and made me believe.
He speaks of common purpose, of working hard, working together. When he spoke of our forefathers who came across the sea with few belongings to build a better life for their children, I was moved almost to tears, thinking in that moment of my own family – I am removed only far enough from that immigrant history that I’ve never met them, but it was only a precious few generations ago my father’s family came to this country, and I am always aware of how much we’ve come in so short a time.
Further, President Obama spoke not only of the challenges facing us in our country, which will require our best ingeniuty and hard work to overcome, but also challenges in the world that we face. We must recapture our place in this world by remembering that we are measured not by the most prosperous, but those who need the most, and in our behavior towards them. We must feed the hungry, work for peace and prosperity and justice in all the world, not just in our own backyard and not just where it is convenient. As long as any are enslaved, none of us can truly be free. I believe that President Obama eloquently pointed out that we have both national and personal obligations – it depends not on a “they,” but rather on “us.”
I believe in a hope that is more than a campaign slogan, and I saw it today. Hope for the future, for the future of all.