Enjoying the JourneyA Historic Day That Will Long Be Remembered
January 20th 2009 14:13
44th President of the United States - Barack Obama
I felt the need to make sure I stepped away from what I was doing to write this post on this morning.
I would like to borrow a regular line from my favorite late-night TV host, he is proud to be able to now call himself an American citizen, Craig Ferguson.
Late Late Show host, TV's Craig Ferguson
"It's a great day for America!"
It truly is a great day for America - for Americans - for us - for our children - and even the world.
Today the 44th President of the United States, Barack Hussein Obama will be sworn in on the west steps of the U.S. Capitol Building.
As he delivers his inauguration speech, which is expected to be about 17 minutes long, he will be looking out on one of the largest gatherings of human beings in recorded history. Some estimates got as high as five million people. Others seem to think a more realistic figure would be 2.5 million - 3 million people. The record crowd for an inauguration to date was set in 1965 as Lyndon B. Johnson was being sworn in. The total that day was 1.2 million onlookers. Today should easily more than double that figure. That in itself is simply amazing!
For me however the exceptionally cool, touching and amazing part of the day that is planned involves the props to be used during the ceremony. Well one prop in particular. The first African-American President of the United States will be sworn in with his hand on a bible. It is not just any bible though. The bible that will be used today is the same bible that Abraham Lincoln put his hand on while being sworn in as President of the United States back in 1861. No one has used this bible since, and I have a hunch no one will ever again use this bible. I think it is an incredible twist on everything to have the first black President elected to office in the United States to be taking his oath with his hand on the bible that the man who freed the slaves used more than a century ago.
Actual bible that was used for Lincoln's inauguration that will also be used today for Obama's.
What President Obama will do and acheive during his presidency is yet to be seen. For today though we can only look forward with the promise of a new day, the promise of changes, changes for the better.
I now end this post right where I began it - It's a Great Day for America!
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Comment by Morgan Bell
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Comment by Janet Collins
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That said, it certainly must be exciting over there.
Comment by Two Guys Sports
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He most certainly is. I am curious to see the final numbers on just how many people actually watched, both live and on TV.
Gene
Comment by Two Guys Sports
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Yes, I agree expectations are so high. Thing is his goals are shooting high too. So even if he misses his goals by a bit almost reaching them would be such a vast improvement.
I am curious to see what he accomplishes on "Day One." He has said that he wants to get certain things in motion on Wednesday (in the States). Rather ambitious to want to get things done on a day when many would just sleep in a bit after being up till about 3AM or so.
Gene
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