I was so excited to go to the concert on the mall on Monday and my friends and I walked over a couple of hours beforehand to stake out a spot. We brought a big picnic blanket and got a front row seat in front of one of the big TV screens. Going to the concert, I was honestly the most excited to see Beyonce's live performance; being a McCain supporter, I wasnt especially excited to hear Obama speaking. My mind was quickly turned around when Obama came on stage. When you hear people say that he is awe inspiring, that is an understatement. I can't think of words to justify the closeness to my country and pride in being an American that I felt when watching Obama speak. His words were moving and made me think twice about my political opinion.
The weather for the concert was beautiful; probably in the upper 40's- abnormal for the middle of January.
I began my day on Tuesday bright and early at 6am, because my friends [more politically inclined than I] were looking to get good seats for the inauguration. My parents have been pressing me for weeks to go, and I wanted to be able to have a few stories to tell them. The site of the army vans and crowds of people walking south down G street was unlike anything I had ever seen. My mom had told me that it would be the experience of a lifetime, and waking up that morning, I finally understood that.
That morning I was with 3 friends and 2 boys from the Naval academy, who managed to use their badges to get us into the ticketed area, right up in the front of the crowd. My morning was spent talking and joking with all of the people sitting around us and waiting for Obama to get sworn in. When it finally began, the bond and closeness to the country that I felt was unreal. Obama's words were moving and stimulating and with the end of every sentence, the crowd roared in applause and the hope in the nations potential was visible in the eyes of onlookers. There was a sigh of relief and a giant erruption of echoing applause as Obamas speech came to an end.
It was freezing cold outside, and the walk back to my room took more than an hour, but it was definitely worth it. Whether Obama's promise for "change" really comes, I think, isn't what matters for our country right now. It is the idea of the potential for change and the opptimistic outlook now shared by the American people- an almost sure belief in a better tomorrow, that is what will get America through these tough times.
In looking at the way that the news covered this event, I saw these ideas reflected clearly. I dont have a TV in my room, but I looked around on all of the news websites. "Better Late than Never" "America Looks Up" and "Obama Learns the Ropes" are a few of the headlines that were over the news online. even by the hard hitting journalists, the election seemed to be one of hope. Obama vowed to lead our nation foward and "remake america"
"this is the meaning of our liberty and our creed...why a man whose father less than 60 years ago might not have been served at a loval restuarant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath"
This was quoted by ABC, CNN, MSNBC, and foxnews all on the day of the inauguration. The news stations focused on Obamas promise in an optimistic light, siting his "eloquent speech" that was "reminiscent of Dr. King" [MSNBC] repeatedly.
Americas news companies are clearly trying to show the same optimism as the American people, knowing that looking up is what America needs in this trying time.
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