Barack Obama Inauguration: Best and Worst?

I was watching the internet feed on MSNBC. Strangely enough, when President Bush and V.P. Cheney entered, the camera didn't even show them. Instead, it stayed focused on Michelle Obama settling into her chair. Strange, and extremely disrespectful toward then still President Bush, bu par for the course for MSNBC, which has carried some of the most left-wing extreme vitriol against Bush over the years. Well, let's hope that Fox News doesn't dip to the same level when covering President Obama.

Best Benediction: Rev. Lowry benediction had the effect of covering the whole event with a warm wool blanket home sewn with his life long warriorship for justice and his call now for love and tolerance.

Best Decision: to include a poet at such an event

Best Poem: Praise Song for the Day by Elizabeth Alexander

Best forgivable offense: Roberts mishandling of swearing in.

2nd most forgivable offense: The booing of Bush and Cheney, who may still be investigated and who, in the court of public opinion, have already been convicted of being the worst president and vice president in our history. A few boos in a zeitgeist of lies, death, fear mongering seems so small by comparison.

The thing least reported: Only Fox tv was there to greet the president and his family when they finally reached their destination in Texas.

Most endearing the sight of Obama's kids in all their cuteness, and the love that emanates from and between the Pres and first lady.

Most interesting aspect of speech: The way Obama takes time out to congratulate and thank the former president for his service while repudiating the majority of his policies as moribund and hopeless.

Most personally surprising: the tears of hope, sadness, of a new day, of promises made, of our time finally come, and of the tears being shared all over the world: tears of joy.

Best reminder, from Obama, among others that this day was not about Barak Obama, but a tribute to the people who will need to monitor, support, and work equally hard, and have been invited to do so.....YEA!!

Dear Manchester: I think, at least just my .02, I flip back and forth between CNN and Fox to try to get a semblance of 'balanced.' Geez, who'd think the day would come when we need two or three tv screens like we're underground at NORAD....just to try to get the bigger picture. Hang in there.

dr.e

One of the best. . .seeing Senator Kennedy in his soft blue scarf
One of the saddest. . .knowing it was too much for Senator Kennedy's body

Something still pondering. . .Faith in the Inauguration and the "backgrounds" of each prayer. . . Starting with the rejection of the atheists attempt to ban prayer of "In God We Trust" for the swearing in then moving to Bishop Gene Robinson's opening prayer from Lincoln Memorial and HBO "accidentally" not airing it. . . .Rick Warren's invocation, he did not feed into the culture wars, yet it did not feel like a gathering prayer to the "something greater". . . Rather it rung of a carefully crafted political positioning to be inclusive while giving a five minute sermon to God like a president delivering the State of the Nation . . . Like a man walking on a tight rope. . . Compared to Bishop Gene Robinson's feet in the fire prayer which rung like a deep petition of social issues with a focused intent of HELP! us God for it's hot down here and we cannot do it without the Higher Source. . . .Then there was background of 87 year old Rev. Joseph Lowry, like a well aged bottle of champagne finally ridding it's cork. . .with thank you, thank you, thank you, we are gathered all around. . . ." Left Every Voice and Sing". . .with its message. . .chose on the side of love not hate, on inclusion not exclusion, on tolerance not intolerance. . . I once heard that God creates and heals mankind by evolution, whereas man creates by revolution, what God creates is slow yet endures what man creates is fast but often crumbles as another one takes its space. . . as i listened to Rev. Lowry and the background thought of that. . . . All of this is subjective and may not be what others heard or what is "real". . .Hesitate to write of other's prayer but something i am still thinking about and peeling from the inauguration. . .

Good Music. . . .the multi-cultural gifting of Yo Yo Ma, Perlman, McGill and Gabriela Montero with Simple Gifts. . .perfect song for our time. . .
Like you Dr. E.. . .loved Aretha Franklin's hat. . .and the background of hats and African American women and how it was a perfect day to wear the "crowns". . . .As she sung additional lyrics floated in, "signed, 'wrapped', and delivered" like a silent song within the song of a much greater song. . . like her coat, layered and warm. . .

A Sad One. . .President Carter being snubbed by the other past Presidents. . .And the humble strength of both President Carter and Roslyn which moved with an essence of deep integrity. . .

A Bit of a Sigh. . .The mighty presidents of the past are walking proud and slow. . .

A Happy One. . .the ocean of regular folks two miles deep and fifty states wide. . .sending forth hope and jubilation bringing forth an inauguration breaking the pattern of the all too often stuffy ruling class inaugurations of the past. . .

Class Act. . . .President Obama escorting President Bush personally to the air lift. . . .

Irony. . . Chief Justice Robinson's fumble on the swearing in of President Obama. . .

Most Disappointment. . .Probably because of my own excitement and expectation for the poem it did not fly for me. . .Really wanted to like it and have re-read it several times, but i have become spoiled by Dr. E. . .for i wanted it to sing and flow. . .

dear Spirasol
I like all those plenty good that you lined out.

"Only Fox tv was there to greet the president and his family when they finally reached their destination in Texas. " I liked that Fox did show Obama goodbying the Bushes as they came to their plane. Class.

dr.e

dear river Yes! the patchwork, yes all the spices of the US in the music and all. And yes the benedicitions were interesting and just double entendred (not sure that's the right apellation, maybe more like symbolic subtext) enough to be interesting to muse on. And re the poem, I wrote a piece on it just now... as I said, what we tend to love, find value in, tends to lead us to our own pack... just as what doesnt move us also signals, maybe not that pack as primary. Maybe secondary or tertiary. Or only on certain occasions. But there are root lines, bloodlines, packs, so to speak in which humans tend to understand instantly certain ideas and things amongst themselves, and so easily. Many say there's no accounting for taste. I believe there is. I find 'taste' to be equisitely plumbable for meaning about one's path in life, what might be hidden and hopeful, what needs nourishment in order to create and be filled.

THis is just my .02 worth.

dr.e

No, I wasn't talking about the Obamas accompanying the Bushes to their departure helicopter. That was classy, I guess, though, I find it difficult to balance such grace and politeness with the disdain he must feel about the policies enacted by the man and his administration.

Regardless of my feelings, my comment about Fox, a network I won't watch, is that they were the only network to receive the Bushes when they landed in Texas. My comment was not a reflection of the disdain I might feel, but what does it say about the networks who were there (Fox is known as a conduit of the Bush Government) and even more-- the ones who weren't there?