By Dr. Chris HanousekSALEM -- The Inaugural weekend was a whirlwind.
The opening celebration on the mall was fantastic. The crowd was electric, joyful, polite. It was a love fest. The warmth coming from the stage and the unified, patriotic audience overcame the cold of the afternoon. The sound system was excellent and the viewing screens were of good quality.
The joy and goodwill among 750,000 people was contagious. The program ranged from a Benediction by a gay Episcopal Minister, to short speeches by Obama and Biden. There were dramatic readings, and MUSIC. Springsteen, Byonce and Mellencamp were the headliners.
Obama spoke near the end. He did not quote JFK precisely, but to summarize the gist of his talk: Ask not what your country can do for you...., and yes we can, but it will take longer than we had hoped. Listeners seemed to reflect a feeling that they believed that he was being direct and honest. Obama, with his speech, skillfully lowered expections without extinguishing hope.
Officials requested that the audience stay in the area as the President-elect and Vice President-elect left the mall. During their exit, Pete Seger led the crowd through several verses of "This Land is Your Land". All ages and ethnicities sang and danced and just felt good together.
Even after dark, work crews were still constructing barriers and check points on the streets near the Capitol. Magic was in the air and as far as the eye could see. All of the people who flooded the mall were filled with optimism and hope.
