US President Inauguration - 'Facebook reactions' are back! (updated: photos link!)

It was beautiful. Goosebumps-and-slightly-teary-eyes-beautiful. As I watched the inauguration and realised what it meant that a black man was now president of the United States, realising that it was real. It touched me deeply. And, as I write now, still does.

I watched the inauguration with two friends - a Spaniard and an Argentinean. And an Egyptian, watching the US presidential inauguration in Paris. Strange world. Interdependent world. We sometimes forget.


As I watched, I also felt very jealous. First because, having followed the campaign since the beginning and supported Senator Obama - and paid my 24 dollars contribution to the campaign, which I will claim back if he screws up - I felt a bit of ownership over the whole process, but couldn’t be there on the Big day.

As I was comfortably sipping my tea in a warm apartment, I was jealous of those two million people who had been waiting in the Washington DC winter for 6 hours and whose fingers and noses were nearly freezing.

But more importantly, I was jealous because I couldn’t be part of it. Part of this election, or any election for that matter: where I come from, democracy isn’t exactly the strong point.
The satisfaction of helping bring someone to power, of pledging allegiance to a leader you chose and believe in. Ay, that must be exciting.

It hit me that I was more likely to actually acquire a foreign citizenship and help bring THEIR leaders into power than I was to do so in my own country. Hit me hard.

Anyways. I’m trying to prolong this near-childish giddiness for as long as I can.
Because now that Obama is President of the US of A, he’s now, well, the bad guy. :) And, according to articles such as this one here, I’ll be claiming my 24 dollars refund pretty soon.

In any event, I leave you with a second Facebook Statuses Survey - people seemed to like the first one. (Hmmm, positive feedback when I don’t actually write... Perhaps I need to take a hint here.)


UPDATE: Photographer Debby Adler was kind enough to share her truly excellent photos of the inauguration and of the campaign, including the one I am uploading here. Enjoy!!



M (US-EG) Hello from across the world to President Barack Hussein Obama!
M (German) is delighted to have an American President he can look up to as a European.
M (Danish) is london is a poor substitute for DC today.
M (Norwegian) has had enough of obamania all over the media.
Z (US-Kashemiri) is about to start the biggest party in our nation's history.
S (Pak) is going to throw away a pair of shoes to celebrate the departure of Bush.
D (Canadian and rather dull) will be TiVoing history today so he can get some work done.
C (US) is celebrating our new country from Kenya.
D (US) THOUSANDS of people are streaming by my house en route to the mall!
J (US) is rolling on down to the mall.

S (Ind) thinks today should just be a holiday, too.
E (Greek) is watching a man walk around judiciary square with a framed poster-size photo of him and Obama.
B (FR) is "J'ai inspiré Obama et ses équipes nous ont copiés" S. Royal. (!!!)

G (German) is happy that you are representing him in the mall.
A (US) Axelrod's on Fox. "Look what I did!"
B (Mex) is watching living history from Mexico City. Thank you CNN live and facebook! Almost there: President Barack Hussein Obama!
D (US) is among the masses!
D (Isr) thinks they should simply crown him king and get it over with :).

B (Mex) okay Obama is not only an extremely brilliant guy - he is also a perfect gentleman! How he walked her wife to the door. Perfect!
M (Algerian) is wishing Mr. Bush a prompt, safe return to his native state. Good riddance to the worst president since WW2.
E (US) is goodbye W.
J (Finnish) is also in obamamania.
M (German) wishes that some of Obama's clichéd hope will turn into reality and good policy.
C (US) <3s>

Y (Chinese, in the US) is watching the change and the new birth of freedom - for his son.

J (UK) ...in less than one hour, the village will get its idiot back.

N (Morocco) Obama is gonna find me a job ! Obama is our superman, and he is black ! (huh??)

M (Irish) was wondering how it would take to hear "God Bless America". Less than 5 mins....

L (Isr) always thinks that Joe looks a bit like a used car salesman.
A (US) is unprecedentedly proud to be American.
A (Isr) Could that ensemble BE any more multicultural?
L (Isr) is having a genuinely happy moment.
E (US Leb) says gObama!!!! great speech hope you're listening now!
C (US) shout out to Kogelo!
D (Aus) listens to Obama: "Your people will judge you on what you build, and not what you destroy."
R (Spanish) is wondering if Obama's inauguration is being broadcast with a five-minute delay, to avoid Janet Jackson-like incidents. :-D.
Michel Barnier (French Minister) Félicitations @barackobama. J'ai espoir qu'il relève l'Amérique, avec l'aide de l'Europe. (yeah, right.)

M (German) : given Obama's soaring rhetoric during the campaign, the inauguration speech was a bit of an anticlimax.

L (Isr) benediction shmenediction. Keep the religion away from the state.
L (Isr) ooh! Hillary's earrings are gorgeous.
M (Italian) it's a time when browns stick around and whites get it right.
L (Isr) Bush is getting on a helicopter and flying far, far away.
A (US) I like that Obama said it matters less whether government should be big or small, but that it works. He said that, right?

A (Isr) Obama finally smiled! I guess the sight of Cheney in a wheelchair...
L (Isr) took a moment to realize who the old guy in the wheelchair was. I love a good fairytale ending!


M (Morocco) watches in tears as Bush heads to Texas...This is even more beautiful than Obama's inauguration speech.
B (Mex) "Bush heads to Texas". How beautiful is that?

N (Ind) wants some of that cinammon sponge cake they're serving at the Capitol lunch ...
G (Isr) is hoping that those narrow shoulders can carry the weight of the world.

S (Isr) wonders how many Israeli toddlers will be named Barak, Muslim babies named Hussein, and Japanese kids named Obama, after today...

M (German) thinks the President's new website is pretty neat.
R (Norway) is really happy that Obama finally is the president of the USA!
K (US) is watching proudly from Freetown...let us not ever forget this day.
M (Egypt and lousy blogger) thinks this whole democracy thing is pretty cool. Wouldn't mind trying it one of these days.

S (India, male)is amazed that the whole day went by in front of the tv. How did Michelle do it in those heels?

K (US) is going inaugural balling.
K (Ghanaian in DC) is ready to Ball.
K (US in London) misses American news commentary - the Sky News reporter actually just referred to Michelle Obama as "scantily dressed."

M (Spanish) wants Aretha's hat...
M (US-Iranian) never thought saying goodbye would feel THIS good... Bush is finally outta there!
K (Australian) is heading to the obama home states ball.
I (Nigerian) : Oh, Happy (Obama) Day!... Oh, Happy Day!...
R (US Indian) is frozen to the bone but excited about warming up into a new era of world politics and leadership. It's been a long wait.

J (US) is enjoying jack johnson at the bo homestate ball. damn the music snob elitists.