a taste of history (part I)

Today was a historical day.

I write this not for the readers who might read this post today or tomorrow, but for the future generations of my family that might some day read my attempts to share who I am and the world I live in.

Today, Barrack Obama was sworn in as our 44th President and the first African-American President of our fine country. It was an amazing day in so many ways and I wish I could articulate how much it affected not only me, but so many other Americans, especially the African-American community. I'm just not that good of a writer. I've tried, but words fail me.

Over two million people crowded into the National Mall area of our nation's capital, in freezing weather, to see and experience this historical event. And the rest of the country was watching it, too. Businesses stopped doing business and invited all those around to sit and watch the ceremonies on TV. People had viewing parties. I saw a clip on the news where it was shown on airplanes.

And I think about every classroom had their TVs on as students watched history being made, instead of just reading about it. That's the way it was as I walked down the hallways of the school where I work. I enjoyed watching President Obama give his speech in the company of our country's future, the young and eager minds of students.

Not all of them could stay interested, finding themselves bored most likely due to not understanding all the words, and the meaning behind the words. Someday they will. Others were glued to the screen, hanging on every word, somehow knowing the importance of this day.

And in the end, we, the whole class, stood and sang the national anthem, being lead by the group singing on TV. I couldn't help but get choked up knowing how many people - young and old, black and white (and every other color), christian and atheist, and yes, Republicans and Democrats - were all singing at the same time. We are not only the United States, but the united citizens of America as well.