Yes, We Can!

I was able to watch parts of the Inauguration Day festivities between classes, most notably the swearing-in ceremonies and PRESIDENT OBAMA'S (yay!) inaugural address. The speech was fantastic, at once respectful but challenging, full of hope but realistic and sobering. Behind all of the hoopla - the parades, the songs, the trumpets and salutes, and the celebrations - there is so clearly a somber realization of what this moment means for American history, as well as an acknowledgement of the uphill battle we all face from tomorrow forward. As emotional as this is for me, I can't even begin to imagine what it feels like for those like Jesse Jackson or other civil rights leaders who fought with Martin Luther King and drank from separate water fountains. The pride, the joy, and the sad memories of those who didn't get to see this day were evident on so many faces, and I am so grateful and proud that I am able to witness this awesome, symbolic turn in the history of our country (and pretty dang jealous of my friends who were part of the 2 million plus crowd on the Mall today). 

Obama discussed America's relationship with the rest of the world, offering a message of peace and alliance to those who have become disillusioned and afraid of what our powerful country might do. He also talked about how our lives must reflect the opportunities and gifts we've been given, and how the progress our country makes is not just dependent on an administration, but on how each and every one of us decides to move forward, "roll up our sleeves," and live our lives in ways that speak to the peace and compassion our country should stand for. It's clear to me, from how the crowds and people across the world responded, that I'm not the only one moved by these sentiments. Most of all, it's so happy to think that the term "American" might no longer be something we want to hide or cringe at in fear of others' responses or reactions to what our country has done. In my lifetime, I haven't had one of these profoundly altering American moments (9/11 of course, but that's a different kind of event), and I'm so glad I know what that feels like now. 

This time, people from my generation can say they are proud to be Americans with emotion behind it, knowing fully what they are proud of, instead of just speaking words. Watching the tears, fist pumps, and flags waved by people of every color and background, I couldn't help but think, "This is what Americans should feel like, this is what our country is about." I've never considered what it means to be an American so carefully, and I don't think I've ever been this proud. 

And, I want this hat:

You rock it, Aretha!