I just lifted my head from the cloud of intense paper writing to turn on the television. Steve called to say that a huge crowd is watching the ceremony in Times Square. Everybody is updating their facebook statuses to reflect this moment.
Random thoughts: Did Bill Clinton just give Bush a smug "ha" look. Love Michelle's dress and coat. There's a lot of anticipation about the speech. I'm watching it on CBS. Curious what pundits people prefer today.
One of the most remarkable aspects of our country is how we are able to peaceably, thoughtfully, fairly transition power. Hamilton once said that we have a great experiment here. He hoped that we could create a country based on reflection and choice and not accident and force. I think we have.
As Obama stumbled over his oath, I was reminded once more why I love this guy. He, more than any other recent president, really gets the enormity of his position.
Now I'm watching it on CNN.com, which is linked with Facebook, so you can see status changes simultaneously. How new media am I?
"For the world has changed, and we must change with it."
"We have duties to ourselves, our nation, and our world." Ask not what our country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.
OK. That was a near perfect speech. He set up the challenges that we face in 2009, that he's going to have to tackle tomorrow. He's managing expectations, while rallying the troops. I hope that he is able to really bring about a new era of political activism and energy for improving our communities. I'm sitting on natural cynicism today and praying that he'll be able to prevail.
I was feeling a bit bad because I was watching this at home alone and not among a big group of people. But I'm social networked like crazy. I'm on CNN.com, Facebook, Twitter, the blog, and e-mail all at the same time.
Check out the White House website.
Obama clearly is making public service a center piece of his administration. Sign me up.
The Bush and Obama families embrace and Bushes board the helicopter. Ah, symbolism. I would have preferred to see him drive off in a U-Haul.
The Twitter/Facebook people didn't like the speech. They said it was too much of a downer, not that inspirational.
I would have worn a hat, just not Aretha's.
More on Michelle's dress.
Where were you when Obama was sworn in? I'm in front of my computer. It's a sunny day with snow on the lawn. The kids are at school; Steve is at work. I haven't called him yet, but will probably dial him up in a minute to get his reaction. I haven't had a shower yet, because I've been working on a paper all morning and was hoping to get to the gym before the kids get home. Steve has to go to a church function tonight, but when he gets home we'll open a bottle of champagne with Victor the neighbor and let Jonah have a sip before he goes to bed. When I think back on this day years from now, I want to be able to check my blog for those little details.
McCain is at the inauguration luncheon. He'll be having the humble pie. Maybe he'll eat some crow, too. I see Al Gore. Was that Jon Stewart? Oh, Ted Kennedy is there.
Facebook had a million status updates during Obama's speech.
Apt. 11d 
I had hoped for more celebration in the speech, too, just like I did on election night. The Big O is very, very serious. He can be funny, and charming, and all that, but foolin around is not his thing.
I’m sure there were layers of meaning and reference that I missed, but here are a few things that I got: Aretha Franklin echoing Marian Anderson from the other end of the Mall; Rev. Lowery opening with a stanza from Lift Every Voice and Sing; Lowery again with a reference about coming down from the mountaintop; invoking justice rolling down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream. What else, what else?
LikeLike
I was at home w/ my son, watching on TV before taking him to preschool.
My daughter had already left for school (her dad was driving the carpool), wearing a red pettiskirt, white shirt, and blue ribbons in her hair, matched with her Obama fleece jacket. She wanted to wear red, white & blue. And, yes, it’s her 8th birthday today, and, for the first time in her life, a Democrat is president (cites to Phantom Scribbler’s L).
My son watched through Obama’s speech, fairly quietly, but wouldn’t let me take a picture of the two of us together to document the moment of inauguration:
http://photobucket.com/obamaphotobook
LikeLike
I was sitting in the Casado Center, here at Friends University in Wichita, KS, along with about 70 other students and faculty, watching the procedings on a big-screen TV. I was impressed by the prayers–both of them. The music was fine (and Laura, Miss Franklin can wear any kind of hat she wants). The speech was very good–not perfect, I think, but plainspoken and direct and mostly wise, with only a little bit of the usual pandering. Not his best speech ever, but it got the job done.
More thoughts here.
LikeLike
I live in east-end downtown Toronto, Ontario. My kids’ elementary school is racially, ethnically and religiously diverse; a good number of students are new Canadians (mostly from Asia and east Africa).
I joined all 240 students and their teachers as they gathered in the gym to watch Obama’s swearing-in and speech. It was the next best thing to being on the Mall itself. 🙂
LikeLike