We have a new president

[ambitious_wench]

4 years ago, my friend Susan and I sat in her bookstore on the day after the election, and periodically we would break out simultaneously into "Oh, Canada!". That's all we could sing, because neither of us could remember the rest of the words.

As The Star Spangled banner played at the end of the inauguration of Barack Hussein Obama as the 44th President of the United States of America, I called Susan.

"Can you hear it, Susan? Can you hear it? I'd sing it, but I can't because I'm crying."

I have fears. I was relieved that no shot rang out as Obama gave his oath.

Susan, bless her, gave me a new perspective: It's not only the White House that's turned around, it's the entire country. I think that even if Obama is killed, America, we the people, will carry on the great work before us of restoring the United States of America to its premier status in the world.

Now, some notes, in no particular order on the ceremonies that marked such an onion-layered historic moment.

"The Future is Watching"--a sign held by a woman in the crowd

Be careful what you pray for, Mr. Warren, it may happen--my thoughts when Pastor Rick Warren prayed for justice for all, and his stance against same-sex marriage in our country.

On Pastor Lawry (spelling?)'s benediction prayer--"when black won't be asked to step back, brown can stick around, yellow is a good fellow, when the red man can get ahead man, and white will embrace right": Sing it, brother, Amen, AMEN!

On the poem read: You have the right of it, sister, it's up to US to repair our world, our country, our communities, to darn our own socks, to patch our own tires.

"I'm close to not being an atheist any more" --me to Susan after the inauguration

"There is a god" me when Susan wondered if Cheney had had a stroke because he looked pretty bad

To my American Friends, consider this my call to each of you, to work hard to restore equality and justice for all, and to hold America up in prayer.


"Now don't mess up" A bumper sticker proposed by Susan.

Comments

[faer23.livejournal.com]

!! For the first time Ever, I actually watched this inauguration. On the news this morning, there was footage of an Obama speech last night. My favorite part was when he said: "...and if I screw up, you've got to tell me!" I am not eloquent of speach; but having been born in the first half of the 19th century and having seen many changes in my lifetime, political and sociological, a lot happening during my "coming of age", as it were, it is an understatement to say that today is momentous. In 1964, my husband was shot at while walking down the street with a Black friend in Montgomery Alabama. They ducked into the nearest establishment. The proprietor of that store told him: "You can stay but he has to get out." Yes...the son of a man who would not be served in a restaurant 60 years ago is now our President! I was as relieved as you that no shot rang out.

[mongo.livejournal.com]

Cheney did not have a stroke, he pulled a leg muscle while moving his stuff out of the Vice President's house. They were taking bets on the radio who would be the first to push the wheelchair down the Capitol stairs.

[panacea1.livejournal.com]

I read someplace he threw his back out while packing. Which is a plausible thing for anyone to do.



"The Lord bless and keep the Tsar...... .... ... (far away from us."

YAY for ambiguous Fiddler reference!

[cjleo39.livejournal.com]

Personally, I was happy just to see the whole thing, since I was at work at the time... but they had the big screen set up in the kitchen.

As for Cheney... all I could think the whole time they were showing him was, "But ya DID, Blanche, ya DID screw up the country!"