Reflection.

The following is the original version of my guest column that appeared in the paper this evening. What appeared in the paper was tweaked, which is fine, but here's the original. Not my best, but take it for what you will.

“We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass…”
Though the critics have said that President Obama’s inaugural address was not the most eloquent of his rhetoric, what I saw as a person experiencing the monumental occasion that was the inauguration of our 44th president, was that people are united. With the estimated two million present on and around the mall on Tuesday, what I didn’t see was ill will or disagreement. I saw an incredible amount of citizens put aside their races, creeds and differences to come together and celebrate the swearing in of President Obama and Vice President Biden.
As I walked through the packed streets of Washington D.C. toward the National Mall on the morning of the inauguration, the energy was positive. There was a sense of accomplishment and hope for things to come emanating from the hundreds of thousands marching through the unseasonably frigid weather to get a glimpse of a JumboTron and bear witness to the historic moment. I saw people working together to find the best route to the activity after being turned away by closed streets block after block. I heard cheers of celebration, saw signs of support and felt the warmth of kindness despite the temperatures. Though the streets were packed from sidewalk to sidewalk, people were not angry to be moving so slowly. I felt a sense of calm among all those hiking along to see the inaugural activities. The attitude was that of: “As long as I’m here, I’m happy.”
After finally arriving at the mall, I took a place behind the Washington Monument positioned near a JumboTron. The crowd surrounding me was cheerful and chatting excitedly, but once the proceedings began everyone quieted trying to hear the broadcast over the speaker stack. During the invocation, most bowed their heads and several around me recited “The Lord’s Prayer” along with Pastor Rick Warren concluding with a resounding “Amen.” When President Obama’s image flashed onto the screen, the sound of cheers was resonant among the sea of flag-waving attendees even as far back as where I was standing. The feeling of unity was palpable.
The atmosphere for the entire extended weekend was one of celebration. Groups of people walking near the National Mall were chanting “Yes we can” and “Obama.” Street vendors, capitalizing on the enthusiasm for the event, were selling Obama T-shirts, buttons, posters, calendars; pretty much anything one could imagine bearing the President’s likeness: even earrings. The only thing I could say was: “This is insane.”
Never in my lifetime, have I experienced or dreamed of experiencing such an epic occurrence. Never in my life have I felt the kind of energy that I felt flowing through the streets of D.C. this past weekend. Regardless of your political views and beliefs, what I can tell you about my experience is this: The people of this nation are hopeful. They are excited about the possibilities of change to come and ready to undertake the responsibilities to accomplish it.