Inauguration Day 2009 marked a significant moment in American history as the first U.S. African-American President, Barack Obama, was sworn into office.
President Obama’s first speech addressed the challenges that America faces today, but also commended the progress made in civil rights.
“Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real,” said Obama to his crowd of supporters. “They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time.”
He also highlighted the problems in Washington – in particular partisanship and self-interest. Obama called for collective action on the part of all Americans.
Many CU students viewed the inauguration, but more tuned in to hear Obama speak rather than to see the inaugural process.
“I don’t know how important I think the inauguration is. I’ve been ready for Obama to take office,” said Claire Jackson, a freshman environmental studies major. “I think that once he won the election he should have been in office.”
Jake Craney, a sophomore English major, agreed with Jackson’s frustration over the lame duck period.
“I was in a few journalism classes, so I’ve been following the election a little more than I wanted to,” Craney said. “But I liked it; it was refreshing not hearing all the campaign propaganda. It was a good speech.”
Some found Obama’s speaking skills to be just as interesting as the actual speech.
“What a powerful speaker he is,” said Elyse Schreiber, a freshman design studies major. “It gave me goose bumps.”
Chaz Capobianco, a freshman architecture major, watched the beginning of the inauguration but missed Obama’s speech. He plans on watching the remainder of the inauguration later.
“I am excited to see him in office,” Capobianco said. “I think he’ll keep some of his promises.”
About two million people came to Washington D.C. for the inauguration, according to CNN.com. This is potentially the highest number of people the city has ever hosted.
There was intense security surrounding the president-elect, far surpassing the security surrounding past president-elects on Inauguration Day, according to coverage by The Washington Post.
The platform where Obama delivered his inaugural address, for example, was surrounded by bulletproof glass.
Dr. Rick Warren was chosen to give the invocation for President Obama. This was a controversial decision for Obama due to Warren’s high profile support of California’s Proposition 8, which defines marriage as being strictly between a man and a woman. Obama attributes his decision to an effort to encourage bipartisanship, according to The Washington Post’s live coverage.
“This inauguration is an awakening, an awareness of people,” said Rev. Bernice King, civil rights activist and Martin Luther King Jr.’s daughter, according to The Washington Post’s coverage.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Sara Kassabian at Sara.kassabian@colorado.edu
