Inauguration Day

Today, Washington, DC was inundated with visitors from all over the country, all coming together to share the historic moment of the 44^th president of the United States, Barack Obama, being sworn into office. On this day, the United States made one step toward unity and equality. Today has proven that this nation can overcome challenges and progress further. Despite the hard times that the U.S. faces right now, people can have hope in their fellow countrymen. Obama alluded to particular historical cases that exemplified this: people who offered their homes and services after Katrina, Americans who were willing to take a cut on hours so that their neighbor did not lose his job. I think his point in these references and others was that while our economy is struggling and we have problems overseas and in schools, we can have faith that these things will be sorted out because we can have faith that Americans are good, and that in unity, this nation can advance.

Obama’s inauguration was the first of an African-American man into office. Despite who we voted for in the election, and what we might think of his policies, we can agree that Obama is a symbol of change. It is refreshing to see that our country took this step, saw beyond color lines and saw a leader. In Elizabeth Alexander’s poem today she noted “many have died for this day,” which is also something Obama referred to--the lost American lives that have made this country what it is for us today. Throughout history, this country has been built and developed and disputed. As a result of this, the ever-changing and growing America of current times exists. Alexander also notes that “we encounter each other in words.” I think this is important on many levels. In one sense, it might be saying that we should be able to resolve conflict with words alone, and words are what empower people. Obama is now the voice of this country, and his words matter to all of us. In a poetical sense, Alexander’s poem plays with words in a way that gives graphic images of different scenes in America today. She uses her words to paint pictures of the American people, to show what today represents, that today, as she says, “anything can be made, any sentence begun.”