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kelly | 19 January 2009 - 8:34pm
I was one of eight thousand people who filled the huge room for a glimpse of history in the making. For a chance to see him and hear him on the path, we hoped, to being elected President.
What struck me as I stood there, waiting for his entrance, was how small the stage was, and how small he would look standing on it. We have made him to be larger than life, casting him in our minds as the answer, the future, for some maybe even The One.
As he strode onstage, he did not sag under the burden of our expectations, didn't buckle under the crush of our cheers. His grand, euphonious voice filled the room, his words wrapping around us before rising to the rafters.
He stood tall. But he was, still, so small. One singular person, spotlighted and standing before thousands. And millions more.
And I thought, What a sacrifice. A willing one, of course. But, regardless, what a sacrifice to offer oneself. To accept the responsibility of fixing lives and fulfilling promises, to take our every hardship and hope ... while knowing that a lamb can so quickly become a scapegoat.
We have pinned our hopes and dreams onto him and propelled him forward to carry them out on our behalf. The weight of the world is on his shoulders.
I urge us, every citizen, to join together to support him. To carry our own part of the burden. United we stand.
And to his protectors, I plead: Keep him safe.
Godspeed, Mr. President.
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It's such a combination of emotions coming up on this inauguration. Hope, so much hope, but also worry, and the knowledge that the current state of the country is more than one man can fix. Concern for his safety. Excitement for the beautiful, historic nature of this election and this president. But mostly, hope.
I am being cynical with this inauguration. I read your words and I wish that what you say about people coming together would actually be true. However I have a funny feeling that after all the hoopla and pomp and circumstance surrounding this election, this inauguration, this man, that we the people will forget the message in about 30days.
Like 9-11 the country came together and not too long after that people went back to their lives not caring about others. I think the same will happen with this.
I hope that President Obama moves you to get involved but the key is that he moves you to stay involved.
It is important to remember he is a man and not a superhero. Amazing that you could be there and hear him speak on his way to Washington!
I think it's great that you were there! I thought about coming down but then it snowed and I'm a wuss. :-( I am very hopeful. I don't expect miracles, but I do think that Obama will work hard and do all he can to improve the country. They say you don't have to respect the man, but you have to respect the office. I hope that the people who doubt him will respect the office, and will come to respect the man. He will undoubtedly let people down. No man is perfect. I just hope that when all is said and done the good that he has accomplished outweighs the things that couldn't get done.
I know, Ern. It may be unfixable, too little too late. But I think he is the one to try. I don't believe in fate, but I have felt an inevitability about him since the beginning, that he is the one for this moment in time. And it reassures me that he'll be doing his damnedest, that he seems to care as much as I think a president should.
I think you're probably right, William. I am not known for my faith in humanity. It makes me sad for our country to think the greatest generation is one that has passed. I believe in Obama's ability to lead us, but if no one follows, we'll have only ourselves to blame.
Jenski, I think he is capable of greatness, but no one is capable of fulfilling all the expectations we've set for him. And he's made it clear that he can't do all that needs done alone. I wonder if we'll rise to the challenge.
Oh, Charlotte, I wasn't at the inauguration, just one of the election rallies. I went home at lunch to watch the inauguration ceremony on TV, but I didn't feel the need to be there. But I am SO GLAD I went to that rally and got to see and hear him in person, that I believed in him before he was President of the United States.