Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Proud to be an American
Today I wasn't planning on watching the inauguration anywhere because I was going to be at work and not really anywhere where a TV was accessible. However, looking out the window of my office onto Independence Hall, I saw they were setting up a jumbotron for inauguration viewing. So my co-worker AG and I went down around 11:30 to watch.
As it got closer to noon, more and more people came out in the freezing cold to be a part of the event. Old people, young people, children in snow suits, parents in snow suits (directly from the '80s!). As Obama was being sworn in, I took some time to take in my surroundings. I was standing on the mall at Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell just a short distance away, the birthplace of our Nation under my feet, together here with people from all over the city and from all backgrounds and families.
Some people were crying; some were cheering and jumping, clapping, smiling; some were silent and reflective. But everybody was involved. Whatever implications are involved in this presidency, Obama has succeeded in engaging the people of America and for the first time in a long time, I felt pride for my country and hope for the future.
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1 comment:
i completely agree! the man has taken a nation of apathetic people and given them something to care about. it's fantastic. i almost cried yesterday when my students ALL told me they had watched and wanted to talk about the speech. college freshmen who cared! it was like magic.
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