Today is Inauguration Day. This is the most exciting Inauguration Day in my lifetime. And you all know the reason why! The First African American President ever elected to these beautiful United States of ours---I look at this dear young family and my heart is so full and the tears come, again and again......They give me Hope. He gives me hope. He gave me hope from the get-go.....And though I was unsure that Barack Obama could actually be elected President of The United States, he was the man for me and I supported him as I had not supported any other Presidential Candidate since 1968.....My faith was renewed in 'we the people' by his actually getting elected....HallelujahAmong other things, he makes me feel that we will be alright.....that this country will be alright and that our standing in the world community which has been so eroded, will be restored again so that the people of the world will once again look to America as a haven, filled with love for all mankind, leaving greed and selfishness behind....The hope that we will, once again, return to aspiring to the highest ideals in all of us and that 'we the people', join with our new President, and act in concert with him......THAT is part of the hope he gives me.....
Sunday, I watched the Concert On The Mall, and just cried and sobbed, all the way through it. The enormity of what We The People actually had accomplished in what is, I am sorry to say, still a racist country----just overwhelmed me as I watched and listened and sang along and tapped my foot with and cried in between. These were tears of joy and wonder and and a feeling of Awesomeness that I cannot even explain in words.
It is what is in my heart. My heart is so very full as we embark today on this hopeful new road. And, I will no doubt need a whole box or two of Kleenex as I watch all the activities from early morning to the wee hours of tomorrow morning---I don't want to miss one thing. Not One.......
What A Day This Is!.....A day I never ever thought I would see in my lifetime.....Hallelujah, Hallelujah
And to echo what is said in a this very beautiful blessing:
"This Is The Day We Are Given....Let Us Rejoice, and Be Glad In It"
Bless our new President and his dear family....give him the wisdom and the courage and the heart and the strength to help our beautiful extraordinary country come out of the darkness and back into the light......AMEN, AMEN!
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beautifully stated Naomi! I've only caught snippets of the concert as we don't have HBO, but saw Biden and Obama's speeches. When I watched Pete Seeger lead the people in a rousing version of This Land is Your Land, I was pulled right into the emotion of the moment. How poetic is was to see Seeger up there accompanied by that choir and Springsteen.
Enjoy the celebrations today.....there's a little tiny bit of Canadiana in the ceremony. The San Fransisco boys and girls choir will be singing Oscar Petersons Hymn to Freedom.....no doubt a dry eye during that stirring piece.- Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 1:40:00 AM PST
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I am so happy for you Naomi- and happy for the world because so many of us now feel renewed hope, that evil and destruction will stop and there will be a better world for the children.
- Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 4:00:00 AM PST
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I didn't see the concert, just little bits of it on the late night news,. but it seems to have been quite the EVENT!!! Wish I could have been there.
Good luck to your new president.... and may the people (and the media!) employ caution, understanding and patience cos the current mess will take more than a few weeks to clear up!
Hooray for Mr Obama.
And hooray for all the people who voted for him.
And Awareness didn't mention that the Nathaniel Dett Chorale will be singing at the inauguration,... another Canadian contibution to the proceedings.- Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 5:51:00 AM PST
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very well said girl! i caught the concert on hbo and it was great! enjoy the day girl and be gald that bush is done! amen!
- Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 7:13:00 AM PST
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Yes, perfect post Naomi. I only had time to do a small shout out to him but I am so proud and hopeful too. I hate I missed Sunday's concert. Those who watched all told me they cried. We have so much hope again. And his family. I just admire them so much. They look so happy, so normal, so smart, classy, adjusted...they are exactly what American families should role themselves after. Helping others, education, they stand for such wonderful things!
- Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 7:59:00 AM PST
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Thank you Naomi, so well written, and am sure expresses the thoughts of many of us. Am so excited, There is hope......
P, from NY- Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 8:06:00 AM PST
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OK so now you made me cry - again/more/still
I am watching every moment as well and savoring it all
beautiful post Lady, thank you- Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 8:09:00 AM PST
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I have just watched your new President being sworn in and he gives many of us outside the US hope too! I only wish we had such a leader to believe in here in the UK instead of that buffoon Brown who is ruining our country and should be tried for crimes against it in my view.
How wonderful that you have lived to see the day when America could vote in an African-American for President and your joy is palpable from your post :) I now look forward to the day when skin colour is not an issue for those in high office at least and neither is gender.- Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 9:17:00 AM PST
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Yay! It is done. I rejoice with you.
- Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 9:57:00 AM PST
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Oh Naomi, I can't stop blubbering. I'm happy beyond words. Really, I am.
- Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 10:09:00 AM PST
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It has been such a long time since so many have felt hope. just imagine: over a million people lined the parade route. that is amazing!
- Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 1:30:00 PM PST
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He gives me hope,too Naomi!
Living down in the Deep South you can imagine the comments I hear. Sickening.
May he have a successful reign!- Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 2:28:00 PM PST
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I am pleased to see him in office (at last!!!!), but not sure if he can possibly be as good as everyone seems to be making out:) It's good that a non-white person has attained the highest office in the US, but surely that is not the onloy, or even most important thing about him!
I have guarded optimism that the world will be a slightly better & safer place with him there - but seriously doubt there will be sweeping changes in attitudes across the US tomorrow!
BTW, Naomi - a lot has been made of the similarity between the optmism now & when Kennedy was elected (and we all know how that turned out!). Do you remember that, and how would you rate the two?- Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 2:29:00 PM PST
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He's the best "B" ever!! Thanks for including him in your letter meme, Naomi!
I was fairly bursting with pride today!- Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 4:40:00 PM PST
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My thoughts EXACTLY!!! Wasn't it just a wonderful day and new beginning for us all??? Outstanding and exquisite!
- Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 6:46:00 PM PST
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Isn't it great! :D
- Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 7:51:00 PM PST
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Yes, and in a time of such financial turmoil, they are spending three times the amount of money for his Parties than any other president....It's actually 170 million dollars....I am holding my breath, because I think his kind of change is going to be bad for the nation....We will just have to see.
- Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 8:39:00 PM PST
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Naomi, your blessing at the bottom of the post is rather beautiful. You could add "...and keep that light shining forever and a day."
I think you should be Barack's speech writer...and with each speech you could throw in a few classic, American standard tunes for good measure! :)- Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 9:31:00 PM PST
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May God bless and protect the new president and his family. May he be granted wisdom and favor from on-high. God protect him ffom the dangers not just of his enemies- but from the finagling of favors from 'friends'.
Today-though much more important than the four minute mile- is like it in a barrier has been crossed. One that will never seem so impossible again.
It was nice to celebrate this extraordinary transfer of power. We need to remember to celebrate these moments so when things are not so joyous, we have memories to build on.- Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 11:04:00 PM PST
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I keep getting shivers and goosebumps. I got the idea of taking pictures of the inauguration from the TV from you, dear Naomi. And I thought of you while doing it. Barack is the real deal complete package human being.
- Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 9:48:00 AM PST
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Hear, hear! I've been walking around with a big grin on my face all day...especially when I hear the words "President Obama"!!!
- Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 10:42:00 AM PST
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I watched the inauguration and I prayed for President Obama to have the wisdom to lead our great nation to prosperity and continued safety.
You know I lean more conservative, but I will judge him as I do all our leaders, not on the words he speaks, but on the actions he takes and the results he gets from those actions.
God help him and bless our nation. I am glad our country has crossed this threshold, and I hope this brings us beyond racism (I know racism can never be totally eradicated), but I hope people will no longer be defined or judged in terms of race. This was a big step for our nation.
:-)- Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 1:35:00 PM PST
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I love what you wrote about Obama and how things will be alright. Hearing him speak, knowing he is in office have given me just that comfort you described so well.
They are such a beautiful, loving family. You can such see it in their eyes. Their is no mistaking the dedication Barack and Michele have to one another.
What a grand day yesterday was for this country, and others!- Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 5:52:00 PM PST
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Amen alright Naomi. I think a lot of faith in the Americans from the rest of the world has been restored, to vote in this wonderful man. Your country has come a long long way in 60 years!!
I watched Obama become your 44th President livein my lounge room here in Abu Dhabi. I had tears in my eyes. What a wonderful day, not only for America, but the rest of the world too.- Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 11:15:00 PM PST
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This was truly a historical event. He has a tough job ahead of him and I pray that it all goes well. He is a very smart man with a beautiful family.
I did not watch the concert. I only watched him being sworn in and his speech. I was amazed at all the people there! Wow!!
He has given hope to so many and I do hope he fulfills it. As my Daddy would say, "Time will tell."
He is our president and I always pray for our leaders and our country.
Amen and Amen!!!- Thursday, January 22, 2009 at 9:05:00 AM PST
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