What I hear and have seen: an unbelievable sense of comraderie, hopefullness, playfullness. Lots of families and kids. LITTLE kids. Everyone smiling, no one in a hurry. Today on the mall they replayed yesterday’s concert and folks were still dancing and singing… “Bye Bye Miss American Pie.”
One observation I have is that in a very poignant way, it is similar to after 9.11. I was here that sad, sad, day, and while I was stuck for 4 days, the city came together then in a lovely, compassionate way. I remember no-one passing me on the street or riding in an elevator, without us making eye contact, checking in, asking in gestures if not always in words, “Are you OK?”
Of course today we are all full of hope, not fear, but the clear desire to share these profound human experiences is much the same. As we pass each other, dance side by side, wait at the Honey Buckets — and there are a LOT of them — we greet each other, as if this were just a small neighborhood block party, and in acknowledgement that no matter who we are or where we’re from, we share this moment.
Jake and I were on the mall today and there was a lone kite soaring to the North of the Washington Monument. It had a picture of Obama flying over a long, elegant tail on which were written the words: “Out of many, one.” I think that sums it up for all of us here.
This is an observation from our host’s brother in law who is a passionate Obama fan:
For many years I brought my 3 grandchildren to WA, DC, each by each, once they attained the age of 8. During that time I was hoping that my government would do better and they didn’t. I am a lifelong Republican by the way. Today I have the hope that our government will do better and our Democracy will survive.
Dr.Stewart McCollon, 80, Retired College President, Clatsop CC, and Southern Oregon College, former County Commissioner from Jackson County OR.
More tomorrow!
Lela
The end of a national nightmare. I still find myself waking up in the morning wanting to pinch myself and say “It really happened.”
Let us not treat this wonderful man as if he must be Superman and the Second Coming of Christ all rolled into one. If our expectations are reasonable, our satisfaction with his achievements will be greater.
There have been complaints about the money spent on the Inauguration. Since I am not personally suffering from the damage to the economy, it may be arrogant for me to challenge this attitude, but man does not live by bread alone. A great day of hope and joy deserves to to be adorned with beauty. We deserve to see the young, brilliant First Couple looking splendid. We deserve to enjoy the fragrance of the flowers of life in the middle of winter. They are not the personal property of the Obamas, but a gift from the nation to itself, a gift for all of us. And we should recall that wonderful moment in the Gospel of John when the woman with the alabaster jar of perfume lavishes it on Jesus while he sits at dinner. The disciples grumble, “We should have sold it and given the money to the poor.” To which the Incarnate Deity, sore of foot and hungry for his dinner, says, “Get off her back. You can do something for the poor every day of your lives. They are always there.”
Sydney Ruth Keegan
Instructor in philosophy, Jefferson County / Bard College Clemente Course
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Part of Lela Hilton’s Clemente Course teaching staff.