I left last Sunday night on a red eye from Seattle, ending up in Newark in the middle of the night with a plane but no crew.
So this is what we did.
When we got to the city, the vendors were ready for us!
As were the stores.
In Georgetown, Shepard Fairey's "Manifest Hope" was opening, right across from Peace Mural Gallery's thousands of antiwar images by a Vietnamese artist and Dance Obama (more on that later.)
After a good night's sleep, I got up early for some Obama orange juice and a walk past many more vendors.
I joined others and headed toward the signs to "The Mall." Two pairs of socks, two pairs of gloves, three shirts and a big Army coat and hat with ear flaps and a camera!
We got into the kind of muddles non-lines leading to who knows where and hoped for the best, sometimes going over barriers (families, included) or scurrying up embankments.
Past McDonalds, where families chowed down in preparation of a long day, or made plans for sticking together or not getting lost (check out the yellow hats!)
As the Mall filled up, entry points closed and the crowd had to try to enter further back toward the Washington Monument, and some people were almost crushed. "Remember Walmart!" Military police, Red Cross, FBI, National Guard, Capital Police and local police were all swamped, and people did help each other. Witnessed panic attacks.
No shortage of "authority figures" or rules, though many of them had cameras!
It was crisp and chilly and the anticipation was building. Most people could hear speakers and at least see a JumboTron. People reached two miles back to the Washington Monument and beyond - 2.8 million, according to the city, with more outside and literally thousands of busses.
I think Reverend Warren was speaking about now - I saw a few people turn their backs. Photographers were climbing up on dumpsters for better angles and people were exercising their free speech, such as this man with his "76" flag and sign.
Wireless systems were taxed and everyone had a camera. Children stared transfixed when the Obamas were shown on the screen. People were a mix of reverent and somber, and joyful and thrilled.
I took video during the part of the oath when Bush was no longer President but Obama was, and a cheer goes up and flags wave wildly. Here are some of the first ecstatic celebrators I saw!
During Obama's speech, people hung on every word. A child looked like he was praying. A mother held her child. A man held his wife. Someone talked on a cell phone but they were talking to someone in Hawaii.
People displayed their creations and expressions, took photographs as they left the Mall whether for their bus, the Metro, the parade or just rather lost but changed.
People took group photos as they moved out of the area.
Some of us trudged past FEMA and the FCC (notice the finger!), looking for a warm bus or a way to walk that wasn't barricaded, a Metro that was open and running or a bathroom not yet discovered.
Here are some huddled masses, waiters and seekers. The one Subway that was open was down to tomato sandwiches, yet we were energized with the realization of our new President and First Lady. (Those on Pennsylvania Avenue at this time were perhaps seeing them walk down the street.)
These people waited for hours in the cold to get into the Metro.
I walked - from 7 AM or so til maybe 4 PM hardly stopping - never really cold or hungry but then shaking with fatigue and chill when I finally got to my friends' apartment on Capital Hill, having had to go around the Mall and Capital and circumvent closed streets on foot.
Not that it wasn't beautiful! Alot of things were different - not just the promise of political change - but strangers were acting like old friends! Chinese businessmen were buying handfuls of Obama books, stores were selling out of the Obama Batman comic and people were getting Obama tattoos. People greeted each other with "Obama!" (thumbs up)
It's been a little commercialized but Obama now has the iconic stature of Elvis and Che Guevara put together and it's not bad to have a little entrepreneurial stimulus in these times! Already in this first week he is both cleaning house and kicking ass in ways that transcend what many of us even hoped for!
Barack Obama
No comments:
Post a Comment