Reflections on the Inauguration Day...

When Obama took the oath of allegiance, you could feel the 2 million + crowd shudder out a palpable sigh of relief. My friends Zeke and Sara, the numerous Americans that I met down there, all told me "thank god, now I don't have to feel as ashamed of my country anymore". It was in this context that I felt more of an observer, rather than a participant, directly, in the festivities.

For me Obama is an idol. I was there to see the culminating success of a man I much admire and have been tracking since his DNC speech in 2004.

I was not there to rejoice or revel in the swell of American patriotism. First, I am not American, and secondly, I remain as cautious as always of US foreign policy and economic philosophy. Obama has a heck of a job ahead of him, I do not envy his task.

Having said that, I was nonetheless AWED by what I saw while I was down there. Americans truly are active participants in their own democracy. Some of it (the lavish ceremonies, the constant references to the fact that the election by the people was a success (as if they are the only ones) or that the country is the "greatest nation on earth") is either tooting ones horn or downright obnoxious, to be sure.

But the number of motivated individuals with pins and banners and all kinds of signs for all kinds of movements that I saw show me that civil society (if not economic equality) remains very strong in the US. And that is something positive that the myth of American exceptionalism has led to. The belief that one person can create changes and achieve anything they want, is fundamental to the working success of democracy, and no greater is this idea perpetuated over and over again, than in the US.

People at his fingertips

There is a noticeable gap in the timeline of my photos right when Obama was giving his inaugural speech. For that time, I put my camera away and like everyone else there, was absolutely and completely fixed on what he had to say.

It is incredible how much he has the public at his fingertips, how inspired people are by him. That is his greatest skill and perhaps may be his most important one as he will have to convince the American public that major shifts in US philosophy are necessary.

His ability to pinpoint this moment along the historical timeline is so breathtaking and effective because it makes us feel that we are a part of a key moment in the history of the world. It's so easy to question and wonder and become cynical about life, and he has been able to re-connect Americans to their story. It's absolutely beautiful.

Other less profound observations

1) Obama has THE perfect name for a chant. People keep trying to start chants using his name and its really very easy.

2) The 2 million strong crowd at the National Mall was distinctly liberal. Whenever Bush came on the screen, and in fact, when he was introduced he was met with boos all the way through. Which brings me to another thought? Can you imagine being disliked (and to some hated) by the majority of the people on earth? Just think about it for a second. Thats an incredible thought, to be disliked by probably over 3 billion people on earth. And you thought highschool was tough?!