Saturday, January 24, 2009
Peggy S, Rutland, VT:
I'm afraid I don't have anything exciting to add. We watched both the election and inauguration from home. But on both days, I felt an incredible sense of relief, like I could finally take a deep breath again. I felt like cheering as Bush's helicopter took off from the Capitol on Tuesday. And somehow, it seemed fitting that Cheney was in a wheelchair (loved how Jon Steward skewered him for that). ... It just feels as if we've all been in lifeboats for awhile, and we finally see a rescue ship steaming toward us.
Cecile G, Randolph, MA:
My story:
Sunday I called three different phone numbers to get to the new SGI Buddhist community center onMassachusetts Ave, NW in DC on Embassy Row (building recently opened). I got directions and took ametro,then a bus to get there. Chanted there for an hour for the success and safety of everyone associated with the Inauguration.
While on the bus returning to the metro, overheard a man in theback of the bus retelling the anecdote about its more likely for a man of Obama's father's tribe tobecome president of the USA than of Kenya, his father's native land. At the end, the man said, "I don't know what tribe he's from." and I shouted out, "His Dad is a Luo", then started looking againat the bus map to make sure of where I was getting off. The man came and sat down behind me said, "I can help you find where you are going.", then started telling his own story. He was fascinating.He looked about early 40s, burly kind of a White guy with a nice face. He said he lives in Shanghai and DC now for his work, but after Obama won the nomination, he called local Democratic HQ and said,"I owned a farm in Virginia send me to your worst place, I can talk with those guys." So they sent him to rural West Virginia. He had a shotgun pulled on him once but he kept talking with the people there, continued campaigning for Obama. Slowly he saw them coming around.
So of course, when I got off the bus, I said, "Thank you for helping to make this day happen."
Use or lose as you see fit and of course edit, I'm long-winded. Of course, my day on the Mall started with long waits in the subway and standing in the cold and wind on the Mall and having limited view of the Jumbotron and my right foot hurt so much by the time I got back to Alexandriathat night I could hardly stand on it. But I could hear everything and the whole city wascelebrating. It was worth every minute of the trip.
Sunday I called three different phone numbers to get to the new SGI Buddhist community center onMassachusetts Ave, NW in DC on Embassy Row (building recently opened). I got directions and took ametro,then a bus to get there. Chanted there for an hour for the success and safety of everyone associated with the Inauguration.
While on the bus returning to the metro, overheard a man in theback of the bus retelling the anecdote about its more likely for a man of Obama's father's tribe tobecome president of the USA than of Kenya, his father's native land. At the end, the man said, "I don't know what tribe he's from." and I shouted out, "His Dad is a Luo", then started looking againat the bus map to make sure of where I was getting off. The man came and sat down behind me said, "I can help you find where you are going.", then started telling his own story. He was fascinating.He looked about early 40s, burly kind of a White guy with a nice face. He said he lives in Shanghai and DC now for his work, but after Obama won the nomination, he called local Democratic HQ and said,"I owned a farm in Virginia send me to your worst place, I can talk with those guys." So they sent him to rural West Virginia. He had a shotgun pulled on him once but he kept talking with the people there, continued campaigning for Obama. Slowly he saw them coming around.
So of course, when I got off the bus, I said, "Thank you for helping to make this day happen."
Use or lose as you see fit and of course edit, I'm long-winded. Of course, my day on the Mall started with long waits in the subway and standing in the cold and wind on the Mall and having limited view of the Jumbotron and my right foot hurt so much by the time I got back to Alexandriathat night I could hardly stand on it. But I could hear everything and the whole city wascelebrating. It was worth every minute of the trip.
Aquacena L, Oakland, CA:
I too am giddy, and very hopeful to the point of almost taking a red-eye fight to the inauguration… just me, I couldn’t talk anyone else into standing in the cold for hours, but I couldn’t get a flight.
But, here’s the interesting part… I am not American. I am still Canadian, literally, not like people traveling pretending to be American. I am a US resident and it hasn’t bothered me not being a citizen because there are only two things that I cannot do: 1. Work for a defense contractor (like this is a big incentive), and 2. Vote. Up until this election, I have not had the desire to vote. I know, you might say, “What about those horrible Republicans we’ve had in office?” My belief had always been that no matter who the president was, America’s system of checks and balances worked and the country ran as usual with very few modifications. But, with our last president taking the country for a joy ride, I no longer believe this.
Even though I didn’t get to vote this time, I gave money to Obama’s election and, more importantly, got involved during the campaign to make phone calls to voters in undecided States. For this, I got an invitation to the inauguration, which I will treasure always. I am thrilled that the US has turned an important page in history, not just because of the president’s race, but also because of the direction that he will take the country.
Another part of my reluctance to becoming a citizen was how poorly Americans are viewed around the world, and you know how I love to travel. On my last trip to Australia last month, I received nothing but encouraging comments from those I met, all along the theme of, “We’d written you guys off, but now that you’ve elected Obama, maybe we’ll give you another chance.”
About the effect on our children, my half Asian, half Hispanic daughter, Maya’s, reaction when she heard that there had never been an African American president was, “That is so mean,” which is age-appropriate for “That is so wrong or unjust.” She is a huge Obama fan and wrote a persuasive essay for school early in the campaign about why he should be president. She told me that her female teacher came up to her afterwards and said something like, “I was planning to vote for Hilary, but you’ve convinced me otherwise.” Perhaps this is the start of her moving the banner forward to who knows where. I hope to get a front-row seat if she is ever at a swearing-in ceremony.
But, here’s the interesting part… I am not American. I am still Canadian, literally, not like people traveling pretending to be American. I am a US resident and it hasn’t bothered me not being a citizen because there are only two things that I cannot do: 1. Work for a defense contractor (like this is a big incentive), and 2. Vote. Up until this election, I have not had the desire to vote. I know, you might say, “What about those horrible Republicans we’ve had in office?” My belief had always been that no matter who the president was, America’s system of checks and balances worked and the country ran as usual with very few modifications. But, with our last president taking the country for a joy ride, I no longer believe this.
Even though I didn’t get to vote this time, I gave money to Obama’s election and, more importantly, got involved during the campaign to make phone calls to voters in undecided States. For this, I got an invitation to the inauguration, which I will treasure always. I am thrilled that the US has turned an important page in history, not just because of the president’s race, but also because of the direction that he will take the country.
Another part of my reluctance to becoming a citizen was how poorly Americans are viewed around the world, and you know how I love to travel. On my last trip to Australia last month, I received nothing but encouraging comments from those I met, all along the theme of, “We’d written you guys off, but now that you’ve elected Obama, maybe we’ll give you another chance.”
About the effect on our children, my half Asian, half Hispanic daughter, Maya’s, reaction when she heard that there had never been an African American president was, “That is so mean,” which is age-appropriate for “That is so wrong or unjust.” She is a huge Obama fan and wrote a persuasive essay for school early in the campaign about why he should be president. She told me that her female teacher came up to her afterwards and said something like, “I was planning to vote for Hilary, but you’ve convinced me otherwise.” Perhaps this is the start of her moving the banner forward to who knows where. I hope to get a front-row seat if she is ever at a swearing-in ceremony.
Joanne C, San Francisco, CA:
My colorblind story is asking my 5-6 year old niece to describe one of her little friends—I asked “what does he look like? Does he have blond hair or brown hair? What color are his eyes? Is he big or small?” Her response was “well, he wears a striped shirt. . . “
Also, when she was 5 my brother sent the following email:
“She is learning about Martin Luther King and they are singing a song about him which she sang for us. She is still working on the lyrics as she sang in a very loud voice "Marthin Lutten King was a white man, Marthin Lutten King was a white man!" We finally figured it out that she was supposed to say "wise" instead of white.”
Even the kindergarteners watched the Inauguration this a.m. (as did we in our big conf room). I wonder what they were thinking.
Also, when she was 5 my brother sent the following email:
“She is learning about Martin Luther King and they are singing a song about him which she sang for us. She is still working on the lyrics as she sang in a very loud voice "Marthin Lutten King was a white man, Marthin Lutten King was a white man!" We finally figured it out that she was supposed to say "wise" instead of white.”
Even the kindergarteners watched the Inauguration this a.m. (as did we in our big conf room). I wonder what they were thinking.
Justine B, Fremont, CA:
I feel ecstatic as well for the incoming Obama Administration. When I go to Paris in April I will be proud to be an American instead of embarrassed. I don’t have a story for you but am glad you are taking on this project. I look forward to reading what you compile.
Mara M, Mill Valley, CA:
Thanks for the thoughts Adrienne -- One thing that came to mind when I saw the concert yesterday with Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor, Bon Jovi and the other dozen wonderful performers....... I wish Bon Jovi sang the Leonard Cohen song "Hallelujah!" -- it is such a moving, introspective piece and allows one to project their personal feelings. I don't think I've ever seen such excitement for a change in administration -- It's as though we just can't wait to get past this period of embarrassment and become strong again!
Looking forward to a bright and healthy future....
Looking forward to a bright and healthy future....
Ginny P, New York:
John and I have a lot of hope for better things, and we've both resolved to be patient since it can't happen overnight. I remember going home for lunch in 7th grade on Carter's inauguration day and recognizing what a good man he was and not going back to school after lunch, so I could watch the coverage. I'm so hoping to feel that way tomorrow. I realize this makes me sound ambivalent; I'm actually very excited. For our country never to have had a non-Caucasion or female president is pretty embarrassing. We're hoping the boys can share some stories with their children about what a great president Obama was, and we have good reason to think that will happen. Someone told me that Martin Luther King's dream comes true tomorrow. I know there's way more to be done, but it did bring a tear to my eye.
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