Whatever your politics or nationality and wherever you are and what you’re thinking and feeling, I think we can all agree that this is a big day for America.
The swearing in:
The speech:
Take your writing to the next level!
Get a free course on writing and selling the book of your dreams.
A peaceful transfer of power doesn’t happen everywhere in the world. We take it for granted sometimes, but it’s actually really, really cool.
And it snowed today in the southeast!
I teared up a little bit when they announced him and he came out of the White House.
Yay for the USA!
Not only this nation, but the world celebrates today!
That a nation can hear these words spoken and believe them so completely is a sign that the spirit of a nation is not something that can be defeated by difficult times. It is a sign that there is no substance greater than hope, that the difference between triumph and tragedy is more a matter of character than circumstance, that the will to greatness will not suffer defeat.
I envy any nation which takes those words to heart, which turns those words into opportunities and siezes those opportunities to build a future in which those words are accepted as a fact which no longer requires belief.
When I saw him speak, I couldn’t stop crying, my knees went weak and I held my bible next to my heart. He really is the blessed one who will save the world.
Yea America! I’m proud of us. Sure, it took our personal security being threatened, but we finally woke up. I was worried that we never would.
Kiersten, I teared up also – when he was sworn in, and started his speech. I was so moved.
We have a new President!
This brings to mind a line from another Presidential transition a few decades ago…”Our long national nightmare is over.”
Speaking for me only.
A HUGE day. And the sentiments that are poured out everywhere just shows we’re still a nation with hope, who hasn’t gone completely cynical.
I like happiness and tears at the same time. I feel so good all over today.
I was in tears during his speech. It’s a marvelous day to be an American.
For the first time in eight years, I was proud to be an American. What a classy president we now have.
I’m echoing Kiersten.
Yay for the USA!
I blogged about how today’s inauguration knocked a huge hole in the barrier between races.
For that reason alone, it really is a great day.
Thanks, Nathan! I was watching the Associated Press feed on the ‘Net and the thing decided to go looking for its server just as Mr. O was taking the oath. Erg…..
Awesomesauce.
Proud for so many things that have to do with this man. Not the least of which is his approaching the task with what appears to be a full and sober understanding of what it will take to pull this nation up again. And I pledge to help in any way that I can.
Personal responsibility. Dig it.
outini n. 1. the alcoholic drink that finally makes you pass out; usually the last of the night.
Amazing, amazing day. I feel blessed this happened in my lifetime.
He has a very tough road ahead of him, but I am optimistic that he will do well. I’ve always been proud to be an American, and now I’m proud to be proud of our President again. Or something like that.
There was so much talk during the campaign about his supposed lack of accomplishments, but here’s one marvelous thing he did (and I think I have the audience’s support on the difficulty rating for this task):
He wrote a book and succeeded in selling it to a publisher.
I bet he also wrote an awesome query letter and landed a great agent.
Honestly bawled like a baby. YES WE CAN!!!
Also loved his smile (you know that beautiful smile he has) when the gentleman swearing him in stumbled a bit. I grinned like a fool as he smiled. Does anyone else know the moment I’m referring too?
I’m so proud of our country.
Here in Indonesia people stayed up until early hours of the morning to watch. “Barry” they call him here — half the people in Jakarta claim they knew him when he was a boy living there.
I love that he fluffed his lines when he was being sworn in, even though he just had to copy what the dude was saying. Too cute, Barry.
Anyway, yes, it’s a great day. Congrats to all you lot over there.
I enjoyed watching the inauguration this morning. I even teared up a little. I am so proud of our country and to be an American.
I actually took photos of my TV to capture the moment. My brother was in DC – he texted me the details from his spot under a Jumbotron. It’s a fine day in America. May we all have a year full of hope and peace.
And a good friend just sold her manuscript to a major house!
KIM
I hate my wordver: Sadream. No, no more sad dreams.
What a day. Wow. So happy.
And hey, Nathan, thank you for your kind comment on my blog regarding the Cybils short list. Much appreciated.
I think I’m touring in San Francisco again this spring. Will let you know when/where.
LM
He actually didn’t mess up his lines when he was being sworn in. Justice Roberts got the wording of the oath wrong, which is why Obama was smiling and waiting for him to fix it. Nice guy.
FYI, All, the New York Times Online has uploaded “Recollections of Obama’s Ex-Roommate.” The ex is Phil Boern, who shared rather deplorable-sounding quarters with Mr. O when they were students at Columbia U in New York.
Boern in the story predicts Mr. O will be “a great president because of his intelligence and even more because of his good heart.”
I think most of us agree? 🙂
Adaora A.,
Yes, I know what you’re talking about–that moment when the Chief Justice messed up!
Mr. O is such a sweetie. Oh, how I hope The System doesn’t change him!
My second grader came home from school, and before she even asked for a cookie, she said, “I was part of history today, Mama.” The whole school watched the oath on TV. Very cool.
It was an amazing day and I was lucky enough to be on the Mall! Far, far back but it was still an incredible atmosphere!
An amazing day. Even for us writers, there are no words to describe the way it felt. Gobama. Go us. Huzzah!
We (the World) Can- What a great moment in our history- Thanks Nathan for this post-
Kit Grady
I’ve been blubbering and smiling all day long at the touching moments and speeches. We as writers, can see this as testament to the power of words. I wish our new President all the best.
I’m happy to see an african-american in the white house, but his policies scare the hell out of me.
I feel like he’s used race to pull the wool over the eyes of millions of people.
I agree Nathan. The election is our chance to state our politics. Now, win or lose, it is time to get behind the President and make things happen.
Many Canadians watched the Obama inauguration ceremony as well – he’s well thought of in Canada. There’s finally a statesman in the White House again! He brings hope to us all. Some people are born leaders – I’d say he’s definitely one of them. It’s a great day for the USA.
It’s less a great day for Obama, who has yet to do anything, than it is for those who sacrificed to make it possible for him to get where he is.
The three young men buried in the dam; the lady who sat in the front of the bus; the girl who faced the baying hounds to go to college; and on and on. It’s their day!
I’m not very political, but I feel good about today and ready to move on to another chapter in history.
Scott said it best: “Awesomesauce”
Things I did to avoid the inauguration:
Watched Dr. G reruns
Changed the channel a lot
Sneezed (Darn Cold)
I just wonder how loud the audible thud of realism will be.
AND AFTER WINTER COMES SPRING FOR THIS LITTLE WEED IN THE PUBLISHING INDUSTRY… i.e. Idealistic fiction has been casting charismatic black men and women as presidents of the US for more than a decade. It’s about time reality caught up. But I look at him and don’t see either black or white – just smart, strong, caring and about as patriotic as it’s possible to get without actually being assasinated for it. … so here’s hoping that the era of murderous idiots has similarly passed in the US, or else the USA will fall so heavily from grace, and lose so much international face that it surely would never recover – not in my lifetime or even that of my children… but back to positive news; after every winter comes a spring, and my own 3 year winter was broken this morning in the form of a very keen acceptance of my own idealistic SF thriller with Harper Collins!! Yayy!!… Anyone happen to know know any fortitudinous agents who might be interested in representing me? (wink wink)… just kidding, Nathan. I know u only focus on works that appeal to your specific tastes… but here’s hoping spring follows swiftly for all of us here! 🙂
We’ve come a long way, baby!
I think that, no matter what our political opinions are, we can all cheer for our country today.
Just in case you’re interested, you might enjoy my blog post from yesterday. It’s a reminiscence for MLKJ day of how far we’ve come. I grew up in SC, and things were not very smooth along the pathway to desegregation.
I was in my car during much of the inauguration and gave up wiping the tears off my face. I wasn’t sobbing, just rivers of tears down my cheeks. At one red light I happened to look over at the driver next to me and saw he was in the same condition. We both just beamed at each other and flashed a thumbs up.
Wow.
I am a proud Canadian and today was so incredibly happy and proud for my American friends. My children came home from school and excitedly told me that today history was being made and they’d all sat in the gym and watched the new president as he took his oath.
Incredible.
And of course, the poem.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wa5GVBQYsxg
Which was simple and strong writing. A highlight.
I watched this along with a whole group that included other people from my university and people outside of the university community. It is one of the best experiences that I’ve ever had, and I’m glad that I had it with a group; I would not have had the same experience if I had seen it by myself.
ManiacScribbler =^..^=
President Obama is an author, a writer, one of us. He knows the power of words. But words like, “freedom” “justice” “courage”and “democracy” only have meaning if they are accompanied by action.
We can cry and hug each other and feel relief that our country will be back on track, but the challenge I heard today was to claim these words, take individual responsibility, and do more.
Tomorrow cannot just be another day as usual. When our colleague asks us to spread hope and make change we must ask ourselves, “How can I help?”
I promise to use my skills to bring change; I am hoping each of you will too. Perhaps together our words and stories can be part of a new collective Anthology of HOPE.
We can make a difference. Yes we can.
Yes, we DID! =)
We are a nation composed and held together by the most dangerous things in the world — ideas. The foundation of the United States is an idea of democracy, that men can get together and solve their problems with words and most of all, ideas.
Words are the second most dangerous things. This is why free speech is enshrined in the first amendment and the Declaration of independence speaks of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Happiness is an idea completed, words made true.
The most dangerous of all things – ideas.
Our country’s come a long way since the day I watched Walter Cronkite announce Dr. King had been murdered. But we still have a long way to go. As President Obama said today, the challenges we face are real. And they won’t disappear overnight. One step at a time, folks, one step at a time and we’ll all make the journey together.
Pride in being an American should not be attached to one man or one party.
The idol-worship of this man is worrisome to me. If he is a good man, as it seems he is, then perhaps the unadulterated adulation he receives from many won’t go to his head too much.
Obama exhorts action by oneself to promote development, yet too many, I fear, want him to do something for them instead of working together. We are a country of takers, not givers – Obama has spoken frequently of trying to get us back to a state of volunteerism and community, but I don’t think people really get that.
May his years be fruitful and peaceful.