Academic

Reflections on Inauguration Day

By Gordon Smith, Christine, Hurt, Vic Fleischer, Fred Tung, Lisa Fairfax, David Zaring

It was everything that they said it would be.  It was viciously cold.  It was teeming with what seemed like millions of people.  And at some points, it was nearly impossible to maneuver, particularly through the check points that were jammed with people eager to get into coveted sections of the DC streets.  And, it was truly momentous and historical.  To be sure, it has almost become a cliche to say that it was a historical/monumental/unprecedented/unbelievable event, but there is no other way to describe it.  Looking amidst the sea of people, I am sure everyone was mindful of the magnitude of the moment.  That magnitude is reflected not only in what the day symbolized about how far our nation had progressed, but also in terms of what the day suggested about where the nation could be headed with regard to a broad spectrum of issues including political, social and economic.  And the fact that there were so many people from so many walks of life in the crowd suggests that the feelings with respect to the importance of the moment transcended political ideologies and party affiliations.  In this regard, while it appeared that everyone would agree that the day was momentous, it also appeared that it resonated for different people in different ways.  Thus, it is hard to describe what it meant to be in DC on inaugration day other than through the use of cliches.  I certainly could not help but to be moved and inspired.  And I suspect that like the many others who braved the cold, the crowds and the street closures, it was a day--and in fact a weekend--that I will never forget.  Hence, though it is cliched, there was a slogan (penned on many buttons, shirts and other memorabilia) that really captured the essence of the day and the spirit of the people who took part in it--"I was there."

Full post as published by Conglomerate on January 21, 2009 (boomark / email).