YES, WE CAN!
by Karen Rendon and Ashlee Allen
A day filled with ceremonies, parades, speeches and new beginnings; Obama's Inauguration was truly historic. A formal induction into office is what this day is all about. The day begins bright and early with a church ceremony, ending late at night with several inaugural balls.
The road to becoming President started in 2007 with Barack Obama announcing his candidacy for President of the United States. Obama, after defeating Hilary Clinton in the primaries, became the presumptive nominee of the Democratic Party. Subsequently, on November 5, 2008, President-Elect Obama won the presidential election. This brings us to the most anticipated event of 2009, the Inauguration of President Obama.
Perhaps one of the most recognized speeches in U.S history, the Gettysburg Address given by President Abraham Lincoln 146 years ago is the assumed basis for the theme of Obama’s Inauguration. The theme of “A New Birth of Freedom,” is also in commemoration of Lincoln’s 200th birthday. During the Oath of Office, President Obama used the Bible that former president Lincoln used at his first inaugural ceremony. According to an interview with a CNN correspondent, the theme was selected by Sen. Dianne Feinstien, chairwoman of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.
The Inauguration Day began for the Obamas with a ceremony at church and then shifted to the Capitol. Once at the Capitol, the Invocation, or opening prayer, was given by Reverend Rick Warren. This was followed by the swearing in of Vice President Joe Biden. After which, the new president recited the Presidential Oath of Office.
Upon delivering his inaugural speech he began with a short simple farewell to Ex-President George W. Bush and followed with a speech evoking his running slogan calling for change. Quantavis James, a junior at OHS, attended the Presidential Inauguration and had this to say in regards to Obama’s calls for change, “It was cool at first, it was cold you know a lot of people but it kind of got warm because I was all next to somebody all the time. It was cool; it was a change something different. I was excited I shed a little tear, just a little tear.”
With a record breaking three million in attendance and millions watching at home, all eyes were on Obama, the 1st black President of the United States. By bringing a feeling of unity to the people of the United States of America, many believe that Obama has shattered racial boundaries that once plagued this great nation. With promises of an economic revival, he has inspired a new found drive within the American consumer. “It made me feel really proud that America has overcome all its issues and civil rights, things of that nature. It shows that there is really quality in our nation that somebody like Barack Obama can become President. It gave me faith in a nation such as ours where so much stuff has been going wrong that finally something new has happened,” stated Falen Smith, an African-American senior at OHS, on her feelings towards Obama’s presidency.
Many people have their own takes on our new President and his inaugural promises of change and reform.” Obama is a nice new change to America, but other than that, he still has to prove that he’s a good person besides the fact that he’s black. Other than he is a different race, I don’t see much of a difference” Affirmed Tahreer Kahtib, a Muslim senior at OHS.
Yet, some remind us that change isn’t dependant merely on Obama. “I am ecstatic he won. I think he represents hope and change. He is also the child of immigrants like many of us. Remember he is one man. Real change happens when people like us push him where he needs to go,” Commented OHS Hispanic English teacher Carlos Barrera.
“A New Birth of Freedom” not only reflects the speech given by Lincoln, but it [also] reflects on Obama’s aspirations for our country. For this new time of “real change.” From Obama’s aspirations is to bring home our troops from abroad within the next 16 months to the devastated economy the first 100 days in office may be difficult for Obama to surmount.
Yet, issues like Healthcare will slowly come into focus. Ever since the unprotected death of his mother, Obama has tried to create health care reforms. Now that he is in a position to change things, such as reforming healthcare, the American public can express a sigh of relief as Obama enters office into a “New Birth of Freedom,” and as some might say, such as Berra, a time of “real change.”
- Volume 1, Issue 2 -
