I wish I could say I spent the inauguration in a pub with a pint of Magner’s and a handful of Americans, but because I had to see it live, spent it in my apartment with the girls as we silently listened to the 44th President take the oath of office.
Here in Ireland, it was known to be happening. Perhaps most interesting is that two out of our four channels showed it live- and one by streaming feed from CNN. Our Chaucer professor let us out early in case we wanted to catch it, and I happened to come across a very interested Irish guy who wanted to know where he, too, could watch the crowing of our new prince.
It is strange to think that people here care so much. Also to sit in the living room and watch cars go by on the street and think, don’t they realize? Why are they out when there is history to watch?
Both that the rest of the world cares so much, and also that they don’t care much at all.
I wonder what today in America was like. Can you feel the Change yet?
About the Author
- Allison
- A 23 year old student of literature who earned her BA at Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland.
Something Green
A Blade of Grass from Inis Mor
The excitement was in the air everywhere. I was glued to the television all day. The country stopped at noon to watch as Obama was sworn in and listen to his address. It did not disappoint. A new day has arrived in this country and I am truly delighted to be witness to it.
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I was let out from my class early to watch the inauguration, and Allison and I went to the CAC forum for it. The room was filled with professors and students alike, cheering and applauding our new president. I'm not a very political person, but when I listened to Obama's speech, I was moved and I really believed that this country could and would become better.
ReplyDeleteAnd after Allison and I got shushed during the musical portion, I was gratified to see that Obama's kids weren't paying attention, either :P
Also, Aretha Franklin's hat was very eye-catching, no?
I know how lonely it can feel to be out of the country when a momentous national event takes place. I was in a summer writing workshop Lugano Switzerland in 74 when Nixon resigned. All of us Americans in the workshop stayed up to 2 am local time to hear his speech (9pm EST)on Armed Forces Radio. No CNN, no internet then, the International Herald Tribune--always a day behind in US news because of the time difference, didn't get to Lugan until the next day (so 2 days late. It was a relief when he resigned (if also sad) -- almost as much a relief as it was watching Bush's helicopter disapear into the sunlight. How do you spell relief? O-B_A-M-A!
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