Change Has Come!

Well, today was the big day. The scale: massive, the weather: frigid, the people: pumped. And what a day it was.

Our effort to awake at 4am and proceed to the National Mall failed when none of the six of us arose before 7am. However, that didn't stop us from bundling up (albeit not enough) and heading out along with the masses and masses of others who converged on the Capital and the Mall. Cris-crossing the streets of downtown DC we were herded along with all the other non-ticket holders passing the myriad of streets blocked off by desert-camo clad army folk. People were hooting and hollering, selling their Obama wears (heat packs were a big seller) and just generally trying not to get separated and make their got as close to the approaching moment in history as possible. Eventually and much to our surprise we were able to breach the perimeter of the National Mall and we posted camp at the base of the Washington Monument facing one of the many big screens that were trained on the event. It was here that the endurence test began. With the sun shining but the wind and cold biting, we knew we had at least and hour and a half before the festivities would begin in earnest. We were entertained by shots on the screen of arriving dignitaries: senators, governors, committe members, the guy who sweeps the floors at the capital (well not really him). The crowd would constantly voice their approval (or disapproval) as various figures graced the scene. Notable and very earnest cheers arose for Senator and incoming Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, the members of the first and second families and certain privilaged celebrities (Beyonce, P. Diddy, Aretha Franklin). However, any image of Obama himself produced the wildest fanfare from the gathered hundreds of thousands (over a million in preliminary estimates). Of course where some recieve cheers other receive jeers: Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas was subject to resounding boos, the elder Bush received some less adament jeering, however the most vehement boos and hisses were reserved for the less than popular (author's note: massive understatement) outgoing President Bush and wheelchair bound Vice-President Cheney. Cold, hungry and tired we perservered through the seemingly endless wait for the object of our collective affection. But spirits remained high.

At roughly 11am the ceremonies began in earnest. The arrival of Barack Obama warmed all present from the inside out. The conservative Reverand Rick Warren gave a rather tame speech in light on the controversy surrounding his presence, I was heartened by the lone rainbow flag I saw waving in silent protest during his opening prayer. The first lady of soul Aretha Franklin performed a lovely (albeit poorly broadcast) version of "America the Beautiful". Afterward, accomplish musical geniuses Yo-Yo Ma and Itzhak Perlman (with other extremely talented musician whose names escape me) performed a John Williams composition written esspecially for this major event. Then came the main event. Cheering followed the swearing in of now Vice-President Joe Biden, I couldn't help but state my joy that Dick Cheney was now gone forever. However, it was the swearing in of Barack Obama that had everyone waiting with baited breath for history to take its course. Though likely nerves (or the lack of clarity of Chief Justice John Roberts) caused the now President to flub the oath a tad, it didn't matter one bit. Immediatly following "....so help me God." the crowd exploded into the loudest and most unbelievable outpouring of emotion I'd yet seen on this very emotional journey. After all the waiting, we could barely believe that it had really happened. Barack Hussein Obama has become the 44th President of the United States of America. What followed was a powerful and moving speech that those of my generation may one day find our children reading in their history text books. There is no way for me to adequatly summarize the contents of this most moving speech on this most moving occasion, but I'm sure few if any missed it. One thing to note, is that more than once, it illicited a couple of tears of joy from this canuck. It was not only the contents of the speech, but the collective emotions of the hundreds of thousands that had gathered to hear it. Hope, joy, relief, wonder, amazement, pick any number of adjectives and they cannot possibly adequatly impress upon you the feeling that was in the air. History was made, may we all be better off because of it.