Anybody going to the inaguration?

[QCzar]

Wow, Lindley. The way you describe your experience is so visual. Were you by chance anywhere near the Phelps-like Jesus Freaks, 'cus that's where I was (right up under the Jumbotron towards the Lincoln Memorial)? It's funny how even they got super-quiet when The Obama was calling everyone to arms.

I was surprised to hear about the whole people with tickets getting snubbed thing. As I said to several people in the crowd (at around 5am, standing in line at the 3rd Street tunnel trying to get to the Mall they said you could get to by going that route until they decided at the last minute to change their minds), the Federal Government have to be among the world's worst event planners. Although I give them the benefit of the doubt, even being able to pull off what they did, considering the scale.

A lot of the folks, including those with tickets, just eventually got fed up and left.

After all that standing around, there wasn't a chance in hell of me going to that parade, unless me and the new Prez got some serious face time. I walked home (my streets were/are still cordoned off, crammed with buses and guard vehicles, and hordes of out of towners) and collapsed.

All else was TV and YT.

 

[Lindley]

The parade wasn't worth the time anyway as I said. Still, it would have been nice to get a closer view of the man.

I think the freaks were all over the place. Definitely encountered a few. I saw someone with a "Become vegan, change the world" sign, and for a second----just a second----I deeply regretted not having prepared a "Save the cheerleader, save the world" placard in response.

Wow, Lindley. The way you describe your experience is so visual.

That's the way I write fiction, too. I see something in my head and then I try to describe it in enough detail for another to reconstruct the scene. It's just that I'm working from memories in this case. Plus those crowds were a very visual experience.

 

[TheBrew]

I had an 8am class (how dare they hold the first day of class today! ), but it got out early so I could claim a semblance of a spot on Sproul Plaza. It was sort of historic to watch the inauguration from the same spot that was one of the hearts of the Civil Rights Movement. They had their own Jumbo-tron set up, so I had a good view except some of the branches of a few trees were in my way.

Great speech and highlighted why I voted for him in the first place. It really is the time for us as Americans to band together and tackle our common problems.

Oddly enough, my next class centers on the American Presidency, so we actually examined the Inaugural address and compared it to past addresses. Talk about topical!

 

[RJDiogenes]

Nice report, Lindley. Sounds like a great day, despite glitches.

From the Rocky Mountain News sports cartoonist.

No Mae Jemison?

 

[hxclespaulplayer]

I was surprised to hear about the whole people with tickets getting snubbed thing. As I said to several people in the crowd (at around 5am, standing in line at the 3rd Street tunnel trying to get to the Mall they said you could get to by going that route until they decided at the last minute to change their minds), the Federal Government have to be among the world's worst event planners. Although I give them the benefit of the doubt, even being able to pull off what they did, considering the scale.

A lot of the folks, including those with tickets, just eventually got fed up and left.

After all that standing around, there wasn't a chance in hell of me going to that parade, unless me and the new Prez got some serious face time. I walked home (my streets were/are still cordoned off, crammed with buses and guard vehicles, and hordes of out of towners) and collapsed.

All else was TV and YT.

Though I was much further away from the action than either of you, I must say I agreed somewhat when a CNN commentator repeated the secret service saying something along the lines of "it was better to turn away some, and have a hitch-free event, than to turn none away, and have a tragedy" - or some such, but you get my drift.

Lindley, your experience, even though hindered and distanced from the moment, only heightened the optimism that I could feel virtually radiating from the screen at the Embassy for the coming term and wind of change that came through Pennsylvania ave that day. I'm sure it was a day where it would be hard to find somebody not patriotic.

Though I don't share his faith, the words of Rev. Lowery touched me, and really highlighted the historic day:

Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get in back, When yellow can be mellow. when brown can stick around. When the red man can get ahead man; and when white will embrace what is right. That all those who do justice and love mercy, say amen. Say amen.

A light hearted excerpt of his speech, with significant meaning.

 

[the 4th hanson bro]

Nice report, Lindley. Sounds like a great day, despite glitches.

From the Rocky Mountain News sports cartoonist.

No Mae Jemison?

psst, they're all trailblazing athletes.

While Mae was a trailbazer, she wasn't an athlete.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Oh.

Well, she's in pretty good shape.