[Kitty]

I am so thrilled to be witnessing history in the making today. I'll be glued to the TV all day. This is such a remarkable day and I'm just so thankful to be able to be a part of it. I was just watching GMA and their coverage of it and they showed the lawn where millions are gathered waiting for the new Commander In Chief to be sworn in. There were blacks, whites......all races......together for the same common reason. And there was a group throwing a football - trying to stay warm, I imagine. It was so touching to see so many people....all different....yet all the same.....gathered for the Inauguration festivities.

I wish everyone could just forget about the color of someone's skin and realize that we're all of the same race - the Human race.

[prettypearlgirl]

I find it had for me to enjoy it, thinking of all the tax dollars being spent on celebrating, when our country is already bankrupt. It may be history, but it is just too much, too extravagant, too over the top insane IMHO.

Everybody wants to say we are all the same and just part of the human race. Yada, yada, yada. So then, why so much hoopla because he's our 1st black president?? Huh......... he's just a man who was elected president. I'm not moved by his color. I just want him to do the best job he can to fix this mess we are in and stop wasting our tax dollars.

Carolyn

[Kitty]

Originally Posted by prettypearlgirl

I find it had for me to enjoy it, thinking of all the tax dollars being spent on celebrating, when our country is already bankrupt. It may be history, but it is just too much, too extravagant, too over the top insane IMHO.

Everybody wants to say we are all the same and just part of the human race. Yada, yada, yada. So then, why so much hoopla because he's our 1st black president?? Huh......... he's just a man who was elected president. I'm not moved by his color. I just want him to do the best job he can to fix this mess we are in and stop wasting our tax dollars.

Carolyn

I could care less what color his skin is, either. But....he is the first black man elected President so that's bound to generate some celebration. Regardless of what color he is, what gender, whatever......he's taken on a monumental task and I will pray for him everyday.

I started this thread on a good note (I thought) and if it turns political or nasty I will ask the Mods to shut it down. Period.

[Alffe]

I'm thrilled also Kitty...am going to be watching most of it on CSpan because they promised not to "talk" us through it which is a welcome relief. *grin

[soxmom]

Kelly....thanks for starting this...I do hope it will remain positive. I
feel everyone has to be full of hope and this is a historic inaugeration, one
that does need to be celebrated.

I too will have my tv on and will tune in from time to time. You know,
I saw his exceptance speech ,from the night of the election, again
last night. Again it brought tears to my eyes and my heart filled with
hope. So I pray change is coming and that President Obama and his
family remain safe.

[Debbie D]

The reason that it is so important and so much is being made of this is that there are many African Americans that lost their lives to win the right to vote...to eat at a counter...to drink from a water fountain...and not be treated like dogs.
It's important because the Capital, where President Elect Obama will be sworn in, was built by the sweat of slaves...those of us old enough to remember the day that President Lyndon Johnson signed the voting rights act know how far this country has come in a very short time...and yet we are humbled by how far we have to go...I am Caucasian...but I was raised by ignorant, bigoted parents...and I have learned that we are all connected; we all bleed red...

Also, a large part of this inauguration is being paid by contributions donated by supporters of the Obama campaign...so it's not all on the taxpayer's dime.

Let us, for one day at least, celebrate this peaceful transition of power. We as a country have many, many flaws. But there are not many countries on this planet that has this type of transition of power.

I am a supporter of Obama...I was at Grant Park on election night...I watched many African Americans, young and old, with tears streaming down their faces...and I then finally understood the momentous event that had taken place.
Tomorrow we can start dealing with the realities of our country's problems...for today, let us celebrate!!

[FlyingDutchWoman]

I am not a sentimental person at all, but the day that Obama won the elections I was really toutched. I went to bed late and woke up early, first thing I did was put on the television and on teletext there were big capitals: BARACK OBAMA PRESIDENT OF US. Terrific! And today I am also excited, just two hours from now I thougt, the inauguration begins, dinnertime for us but we will eat on the couch in front of the television
I hope today really will be a changing day for you, and ofcourse for the rest of the world. Obama is the first president of the US I really like, I'm a little jalous to you all today

[Alffe]

http://www.flixxy.com/presidents-morphing.htm


Thanks Barbo...fingers crossed that it works...and I think your English is great!!

[dahlek]

And the hope that no one in those millions on the mall and around the capital get hurt in any way, shape or form.
We will see changes, some we may not like-I suspect. But that is the way of government and it moves glacially slowly most of the time. A big super-taker can't take a u-turn on a dime, nor does the government. Used to work there...it takes 1,3,5 & 10 year plans which may or may not happen. A lot of exercises in polite fiction it would seem? But, at times good things can and DO happen and become real. The changes won't be easy or smooth, they never are, because I's aren't dotted or T's crossed.
It IS a hope that our future might just be better than the status quo or the recent past for all of us. Things can and should improve, but in a while.
The hope that one day we won't have to wake up with the pains and fears that we have due to our neuro problems. That could begin to happen!

Hugs to all and may we all have a wonderful day! - j

[weegot5kiz]

I am happy we are moving forward, time to get the country back on its feet. I too hem and haw at the amount of money being spent, way too much, but this is the first African American President, so perhaps some of it is in tune with the magnificence of the moment and the fact that this is something that will never happen again, this is a first. I kind of thought he would use the inaugural as an example of tightening the belt ideology.