Monday, January 19, 2009, Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, outside Washington, DC, 4:40 p.m.
Jan 20, 2009
Here at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, we stand waiting for the changing of the guard. The memorial dedicated to three unknown soldiers from past wars—First, Second and Korea wars—is located right in the middle of this immaculately kept US National
Here at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, we stand waiting for the changing of the guard. The memorial dedicated to three unknown soldiers from past wars—First, Second and Korea wars—is located right in the middle of this immaculately kept US National Cemetery where some of American great lie buried. President John F. Kennedy, his wife Jacqueline Onassis-Kennedy, and two children are interred here. So is his brother Robert Kennedy. Thousands of known and lesser known Americans are buried here. Perhaps, when that day comes, the next president of United States Barack Obama will be interred here in Arlington should he so wish, a public place where people can come to visit his grave and say, ‘He was the first African American president’.
For now, though, watching the changing of the guard, an elaborately executed manouver by just three soldiers walking in lock-step uniform with such grace they could be floating on air, serve as metaphor for what will happen tomorrow, Tuesday, January 20, 2009 when George Walker Bush will be history, and Barack Hussein Obama will become history. Indeed, what will happen in Washington as the sun rises tomorrow is greatly anticipated by the world not only because of its significance in history but because of this point in history when the world is threatened by many ills including recession, war and all manners of other ills.
The climb to power by Barack Obama is widely anticipated precisely because the world right now needs someone to believe in, someone who can lift them up from their collective misery, if only for a few hours, to make them dream of a better day for human race. Obama himself has downplayed expectations of what he can do, still many believe that he has what it takes to turn the ship around, away from the precipice of the abyss, from a certain plunge into the depth of darkness. Professor William Bainbridge of University of Dayton, Ohio, and his wife Linda are among the believers. Lifelong Republicans, they heard Obama’s message, voted for him, and are now in Washington to see him become president. “Enough with negative thinking, it’s time to start looking beyond our little holes into the larger world out there, get to othersâ€, said Linda.
It is a sentiment echoed by Thomas Austin from Atlanta, Georgia who see coming of Obama as the much awaited validation that African American have waited for to know that they can achieve whatever they set themselves to do. “Obama’s election taught me that nothing is impossible, and don’t let anyone tell you any differentâ€, he says to nods from his breakfast companion Demetris Webb from Vero Beach, Florida and Travis Washington from Albany, Georgia.
Indeed, many blacks attending the ceremony do not see Obama in terms of the mechanics of power, the defeat of recession or even the successful of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, but more in terms of a harbinger of hope, an affirmation of what many always knew in their hearts could be done, but dared not mention out aloud less they were considered mentally deranged. Now Obama has made it all come out into open, he has made it all possible.
The day after Obama is sworn in, reality will set in, the realization that this is a human being who cannot do magic, make problems disappear with the mere waving of the wand, and that indeed most of the world ills are still very much evident. Obama come at a time for change, but he will not be able to deliver the change expected of him because such changes take time, energy and most of all, patience to wait for better days.
But what Obama brings to the presidency is an intellect to think clearly, a curiosity to try something that others say cannot be done, and hopefully, the optimism to carry on in spite of setbacks.
Here the smartly dressed officer has just announced that Arlington National Cemetery has closed at 5:00 p.m. after which it ceased to be a public park, and became a restricted military zone.
Tomorrow, after the inauguration Obama will become the property of the United States of America, after which access to him will be restricted to the few. He will be the 44th president of the United States of America.
Opiyo.oloya@sympatico.ca
For now, though, watching the changing of the guard, an elaborately executed manouver by just three soldiers walking in lock-step uniform with such grace they could be floating on air, serve as metaphor for what will happen tomorrow, Tuesday, January 20, 2009 when George Walker Bush will be history, and Barack Hussein Obama will become history. Indeed, what will happen in Washington as the sun rises tomorrow is greatly anticipated by the world not only because of its significance in history but because of this point in history when the world is threatened by many ills including recession, war and all manners of other ills.
The climb to power by Barack Obama is widely anticipated precisely because the world right now needs someone to believe in, someone who can lift them up from their collective misery, if only for a few hours, to make them dream of a better day for human race. Obama himself has downplayed expectations of what he can do, still many believe that he has what it takes to turn the ship around, away from the precipice of the abyss, from a certain plunge into the depth of darkness. Professor William Bainbridge of University of Dayton, Ohio, and his wife Linda are among the believers. Lifelong Republicans, they heard Obama’s message, voted for him, and are now in Washington to see him become president. “Enough with negative thinking, it’s time to start looking beyond our little holes into the larger world out there, get to othersâ€, said Linda.
It is a sentiment echoed by Thomas Austin from Atlanta, Georgia who see coming of Obama as the much awaited validation that African American have waited for to know that they can achieve whatever they set themselves to do. “Obama’s election taught me that nothing is impossible, and don’t let anyone tell you any differentâ€, he says to nods from his breakfast companion Demetris Webb from Vero Beach, Florida and Travis Washington from Albany, Georgia.
Indeed, many blacks attending the ceremony do not see Obama in terms of the mechanics of power, the defeat of recession or even the successful of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, but more in terms of a harbinger of hope, an affirmation of what many always knew in their hearts could be done, but dared not mention out aloud less they were considered mentally deranged. Now Obama has made it all come out into open, he has made it all possible.
The day after Obama is sworn in, reality will set in, the realization that this is a human being who cannot do magic, make problems disappear with the mere waving of the wand, and that indeed most of the world ills are still very much evident. Obama come at a time for change, but he will not be able to deliver the change expected of him because such changes take time, energy and most of all, patience to wait for better days.
But what Obama brings to the presidency is an intellect to think clearly, a curiosity to try something that others say cannot be done, and hopefully, the optimism to carry on in spite of setbacks.
Here the smartly dressed officer has just announced that Arlington National Cemetery has closed at 5:00 p.m. after which it ceased to be a public park, and became a restricted military zone.
Tomorrow, after the inauguration Obama will become the property of the United States of America, after which access to him will be restricted to the few. He will be the 44th president of the United States of America.
Opiyo.oloya@sympatico.ca