Art Madness!

Here is another batch of photos from my trip to the Inauguration.   The interesting thing about this experience is that even though I was there to soak it in first-hand, I don’t have  many great photos.  The shots are mostly from  a distance and don’t accurately reflect the experience.  You all probably had a better view  sitting at work or at school!

One thought continues to stick with me over the last 48 hours:  Given the fact that there were 2 million people on hand for the Inaugural address by President Obama, I still cannot believe how quiet everyone was.  The entire crowd, 2 million strong, stood enraptured.  We all knew this was the moment we had waited for, over the last several years and the long cold hours on Inauguration Day.  We savored all nineteen minutes, and it sure tasted sweet!

Proof that we were there! Our friend Becca on the left, and my older brother Luke in the center.

We all know that a national and international event occurred on the Washington DC Mall midday Tuesday. What needs to be remembered is that it was also very personal for many who watched from afar, but especially for those who were present. We were immediate witnesses to history. We were part of the backdrop for the Inauguration of the first African-American President – very few nations have the faith in their democratic system to elect a person who represents such a small portion of the population. But
President Obama is more than that; he represents all of us, and we elected him not because what he looks like or where he came from, but because he offers the best chance for meaningful change. American elected the candidate they believed represented hope and new ideas; A New Beginning for America. The crowd that you see in these pictures was radiating this sensation of optimism and faith that these new ideas can be carried out under the leadership of President Obama.

We left my brother’s house this morning at 4:30 hoping that we would be able get ahead of the lines and the millions of people who would be joining us.  How wrong we were!  Below are some pictures of the lines and the massive crowds we would wrestle with all day.

Yet, despite the chaos and the hassle, the EVENT itself was incredibly worthwhile.  I will post later about the speech and the inauguration ceremony, but for now, let me just say that it was awe-inspiring.   It was an emotional crowd and an atmosphere that transcended the troubling times that our nation faces.   All those who attended this event will forever remember this day…

4:45 - Line to enter the Metro Station

I made it home safely today after 48 hours of traveling. In reality, the travel was far easier than I thought. I have a lot of photos still to post and a lot to share but I’m having trouble with my computer and the internet connection. I will continue to work on it tonight, but be patient. If it still doesn’t work, I’ll make sure to catch up tomorrow.

Please check back!

There is certainly a lot of buzz about President-Elect Obama and his ability to give a stirring and inspiring speech. I am looking forward to that speaking prowess today more than anything else. I have also been looking at other inaugurals by presidents of the past, and have a few that stand out.

Franklin D. Roosevelt (1941) – In this speech, FDR tries to remind the nation why we are stronger together than divided. Further, we rely on our union to survive:

“… a nation, like a person, has something deeper, something more permanent, something larger than the sum of all its parts. It is that something which matters most to its future—which calls forth the most sacred guarding of its present.”

John F. Kennedy (1961) – Many people refer to this speech as a significant one, but they often quote the now famous “Ask not what you can do for your country…” line as the reason. I think the whole thing is brilliant. His command of the language is impressive and he is so eloquent. Check out the whole thing, I dare not try to paraphrase or include a section only.

Check it out! Happy reading!

We just upgraded out tickets!

Alright, so if you check out the map below, you’ll see a section that is shaded purple. Our NEW tickets have us there, much closer and on the other side of the reflecting pool. How’d we get these great new tickets? I have no idea! Luke, my older brother, pulled some strings at the last minute, and here we are…

We are leaving at 430 am, but I can’t sleep. I’m ready to go now! I will add photos and other stuff when I get home today, but with a crowd of over 2 million, who knows when that will be. Wish us luck.

Check out this map –

Perhaps “Seating” is the wrong term, because we are certainly not important enough to get a chair for this event! We will be standing in the section that is shaded gray, the Mall Standing Area. If we get there early enough, and I think we are going to try, we will have a spot to stand looking across the reflecting pool at the Capitol Building. The VIP seating is in a semi-circle placed directly in front of the Capitol and it looks like the stage has been erected on the Capitol steps. So, we are not that close, but we have a better spot than most. If the map was larger, it would show that the Mall extends a long ways behind us, and that’s where the vast majority of people will be standing. We are lucky to have these tickets!

I’m going to deviate from the Madness a bit today but I think it’s important to share this experience with you over the next few days. I just arrived in Washington DC, where I am preparing for Inauguration 2009! Tomorrow at noon, the United States will swear in a new leader, President Barack Obama. Millions of people will be present for the actual event while hundreds of millions more across the globe will be watching. I am lucky enough to have been given a ticket by me older brother who works in Washington DC, and I am very excited! Tomorrow is a big day, an historic day for these United States. I will be there and I will post my thoughts and observations afterwards. Of course, I will include lots of photos, too! Keep checking in, I’ll be adding to this for the next 48 hours…

By the way, this is a painting created by the artist Shepard Fairey (and you thought I wouldn’t connect this all to art? HA!) The artist worked with stencils and paint, but pulled from his extensive practice as a graffiti artist.