Inaugurations (Congratulations)!! Solid as Barack!

After spending months working on the Obama campaign, registering voters, canvassing door-to-door, and generally spreading the Obama word to anyone who would listen, I knew there was no chance I was going to miss the Inauguration…and I was right.

We arrived at the New Carrolton metro station in Maryland around 6pm on Monday January 19, a day of service to honor a man who paved the way for so much, particularly the most recent, unthinkably advanced progress we’ve made in so short a time. I instantly felt a rush of nervous excitement about the evening to come, but more so, about the upcoming momentous, much anticipated day that would soon change everything this country had known for the past eight years. Excitedly walking among all the enthusiastic, determined people was a thrilling inspiration, and quite reminiscent of the civil rights and million man marches. The lines were flooded with proud African Americans, who before now, could only have imagined witnessing such an event in this lifetime. Something amazing was going on, and we were going to be a part of it; history was happening, and it truly was once in a lifetime.

There was immediate trouble switching metro lines and early confusion about directions, general orientation, communication, and the ticketing procedure. Theses key issues were rarely clarified, only accompanied by future misunderstanding and later, pure mistrust. We were greeted at union station by a small herd of travelers and a few armed guards, who seemed focused, yet much lower security than we’d thought, as we had foreseen an extensive search upon leaving train. We asked the guard(s) if we could sleep at the mall outside but we got varying responses, ranging from “no, we’re closing it down”, and “maybe, but it’s being searched”, to “sure you can”. Freezing cold, having planned to stand/sleep on the mall outside until this unseen foiling, we decided to explore the well lit capitol building, the mall, and the glorious Washington monument. . These trusted symbols of our nation began to take on mystical electricity in the clarifying moonlight on that frigid Inaugural eve and it seemed that, once again, anything in this country could be possible with hope, determination, intelligence, compassion, and enough imagination to dream of something beautiful. The mall was practically empty, besides Anderson Cooper, who was filming his show on sight, right in the heart of the prime locale. He was surrounded by adoring fans, one of whom was from Ghana and wouldn’t stop begging Anderson to come over for a picture, a request that Cooper so harshly declined; “I’m working”, he muttered as he started fiddling with his Blackberry while looking extremely focused and possessed.

Once out of the mall, we proceeded to circle around the same metro station three times, continuously passing the same pixie stick, which looked more appealing every time. Misdirected, spinning in circles, and blockaded off a few roads, we were screamed at by a female cop, though in retrospect, we had no idea who this woman was or what authority she possessed, only that she was the lone car on the street and that she was yelling at multiple lost souls who were all listening too; it was somewhat reassuring to know that we weren’t the only ones stuck in this barricaded maze.)“Do you know how to get to McDonald’s?” we begged her in desperation. “I don’t know where the McDonald's is, but you can’t walk this way! Turn around and go down that street”, she harshly yelled. After wandering and getting sent in opposite, disorienting directions by a few more uninformed authorities, we really started to feel the frustration, but more so, the cold. In desperation, we caught the last running metro to DuPont circle (the metro closed from 2am-4am, on the busiest night possible—what was the point of this?) We got very detailed, helpful directions from metro guy, causing us to regain trust in the D.C. uniformed authority (foolish mistake). We took in the glamour of the town. And while every club looked exclusive and everyone looked ready to party, somehow I wasn’t convinced Obama was the focus, and that troubled me.  Even during a time like this, a moment so exciting and charged with weight and meaning and responsibility and introspection, even with all this, people were still just concerned with wearing the right thing, getting into the hottest club, and singing whatever cheesy song possible (Journey’s “Don’t stop believing”). After surveying a bar or two, we headed to the metro towards the mall, but when we walked down the metro escalator stairs, people began chanting to us, “slide, slide, slide!” They seemed disappointed when we only waved and smiled like we were the ones taking presidential oaths. Their enthusiastic requests weren’t clear until later when people began sliding headfirst down the long, steep railing, cheered on by Obama chanting and a rowdy, happy crowd.

Once off the metro, there were vague instructions coming from every direction and no one seemed to know where the lines led, to the parade or the inauguration, and my friend and I were forced to separate, each exploring a different mob scene. Very little security, I repeat, very little security…Swarm, Swarm!! We were never searched or put through a metal detector. Instead, we just sort of exploded onto the mall, without any real reminder of police presence but a few rooftop snipers, guns out and ready to shoot. I’ll admit it made me nervous, and I knew I wouldn’t get rid out this edgy, sickening feeling until I heard Obama make that crucial oath, and then his speech, unharmed.

During the six hour wait in the bitter January air, everyone anticipated a glorious occurrence, one that would go down in history as an accomplishment for humanity, reaffirming our ability to come together in order to save ourselves from war or corruption or national embarrassment, but mostly, ourselves. For the first time in a long while, I was actually proud to live in this country, and it felt largely reassuring, yet surprising, as I’d never felt this kind of promising potential before. Mostly though, I just couldn’t wait to get Bush out of there, and Obama in his rightful place.

Between the hours of six and eight, before the sun really came out, there was an exhilarating, freezing cold in the air that I’d never before known. So, we turned up the radio and listened to Inaugural news, while songs like “Like a Rolling Stone” blared on. (And where was Bob Dylan anyway? Wouldn’t this sort of event appeal to him?). We sang along, happy and in jovial spirits, while loosing feeling in our toes and meeting many fellow Obama supporters, who started wrapping themselves in plastic to escape the cold. There were memorable characters all around, including people in trees, trying to get a better look and picture; like animals, they were waiting, stalking, observing; suspense was everywhere. When we began to lose intensity, a gust of wind or a littering big mouth would shake us back to Tuesday, January 20^th, 2009.

The borage of political introductions, highlighted only by the furious boo-ing of both Bush and the handicapped Cheney, were immediately overshadowed by the Obama inc. warm reception. “O.M.O. (oh my Obama), it’s really happening!” I kept repeating. When Obama did finally accept the office, there was such an exhilarating, inspiring spirit in the air I couldn’t help but tearfully smile. His speech was moving, but not in the way I expected. I thought I’d be affected most by the tragedy of the last eight years, but I was more shaken by the euphoric, idealist intentions of living so much better, both conscientiously and intelligently, coupled with the promise of a long-overdue paradigm shift in this country. Between the laundry list of troubles ahead, and behind, the speech broke my heart, but our past abilities to recover and rebuild filled me with a sense of wonder at the human spirit and our dedication to positive progress. Certainly, they are times to call it quits, prompted by a last straw that attempts to take away our chance to try again—but then how, and why, do we continue? We go on not merely to survive, but to gain some sense of harmonious compassion and a greater understanding of life, love, truth, desire, and passion, with the unwavering commitment to always strive for something more. By its conclusion, the speech left few unmoved, and even fewer dry eyed; it was life-altering.

Later, when Bush took off for the last time in his helicopter, I couldn’t help but yell belligerently, “Get out and don’t come back!”, “Thanks for destroying the country, you horrible monster”, and the like. After getting this pure, pent-up anger and heartbreak out of my system, I graciously accepted an abrupt wave of relief and joy that followed. The experience could only be described as a huge weight being lifted off of me, the country, and the rejoicing world; quite simply, it was incredible.

Between the opening prayer and Obama’s moving speech, there was a lot of refreshing discussion of nonviolence. During these moments, it seemed impossible for anyone to start a war with us now without looking aggressive and hateful. Our country is now peaceful and compassionate, and a lot of world leaders should be pleased….don’t you think? I mean, what was their other option? It was wonderfully reassuring to know that we had made the right choice, at last. And in the end, with a new president and new country in the works, would it really be too much to dream of world peace? Why not? We now have the most powerful leader in the world with that same vision, and I think we’re all realizing we have real, serious issues to deal with right now and the only way to face them is together, united and in the right hands. Inaugurations (congratulations) Obama, America, and the world!