Whoopie! President Obama

[ellen_datlow]

I was just about to go to lunch with Gahan Wilson (who was picking me up at my apt) when I realized that I was going to MISS THE SPEECH!!! I got downstairs and we talked about the disappointment. However, as we meandered down Hudson Street looking for a place to eat (now that our regular joint, Florent, is gone), we got to Dublin 6 which announced in small signs outside--come and have a drink/food and watch the inauguration. How could we resist? We didn't. I wanted their Irish breakfast but they only serve it on weekends (I forgot)but made do and arrived JUST in time to see Obama sworn in and start his speech. We and the other patrons applauded loudly and I was just about in tears. And worried the whole time that something bad would happen. However, the overview of the crowds of people attending the inauguration almost made me forget my fears.

He made me and Gahan especially happy by giving a shout out, not only to Christians, Muslims, and Jews but to non-believers. We think this is the first time a president ever did that and it was a breath of fresh air. Thank you, President Obama.

Comments

[joeicarus.blogspot.com (from livejournal.com)]

I agree on every point. I'm not atheist, exactly, but I noticed and appreciated that. I have good friends who are atheist who insist that prejudice/intolerance against atheists is more widely tolerated than just about any other sort, and it's hard to dispute the point. How many decades away are we from the possibility of a non-Christian president--let alone an atheist one?

On the other hand, the prayer by that guy from Saddleback was the most overtly Christian one I can recall. My impression is that usually the people brought in for that sort of thing give vaguely theistic prayers that pretty much any Christian, Jew, or Muslim could get behind. Not so much today.

I put the inauguration on in class. I had to concentrate on not crying myself. First of all, that would have freaked kids out. Beyond that, though, I don't know if my kids could have understood why this white guy thought Obama's election was such a big deal. (And, of course, I'm not allowed to make political statements.)