Barack Obama Inaugurated - Humanity & Hope at the Helm!

Did you watch the inauguration?

Never before have I particularly cared, or rarely even bothered, to watch one. But this election has been different. What a riveting speech Obama gave. Inspiring, inclusive, not shy, and pragmatic. The idea of "dusting ourselves off", "putting away childish things" and embracing "new tools" and taking individual "responsibility", is really what we need to do as a nation, don't you think? There's hope once again, for grass roots effectiveness. I admire his courage in reaffirming global humanity in helping the starving and uneducated, and reminding our country of our "relative prosperity" despite the current economic crisis. I also loved the unabashed African Americaness of Aretha's Easter Sunday hat, as well as Dr. Joseph Lowery's benediction using old school rap rhyming people's colors with pithy poet "We ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to give back, when brown can stick around, when yellow will be mellow, when the red man can get ahead man, and when white will embrace what is right," What a hoot! Talk about ushering out the elitist stodgy tone of past presidential households!

It all makes me feel like getting my own house in order... but with a gentler more healing forgiveness and humor to accompany this. To me, this is the subtle lesson of Brazil's culture, as well as others I've visited during my travels. No matter what, we cannot forget our shared humanity and humor, or we will surely lose hope and helm.

Aretha:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/liveblogging/2009/01/arethas-hat.html
http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=6689705

Inaugural Overview:
http://dcist.com/2009/01/live_blogging_the_swearing-in_cerem.php

I think Michael Moore's website echos a lot of the attitude floating around at the beginning of this new era...
http://www.michaelmoore.com

I hope that the joyous momentum initiated with this presidency, is carried forward through the mountain of challenges ahead! As Obama said, it won't be for the faint hearted!

I will be attending one of many celebrations in San Francisco, indeed around the world, of this momentous election. I am touched, that there are people abroad weeping with joy, relief and hope about Obama's presidency... and with a newfound respect for the potential and judgment of our country.