• by Haider Rizvi (washington)
• Wednesday, January 21, 2009
• Inter Press Service

'I have never seen anything like this in my whole life,' said Joseph Smith, 79, with tears of joy rolling down his dark, wrinkled cheeks as he watched Barack Obama being sworn in as the new U.S. president Tuesday. 'This is unbelievable.'

With an air of serenity and grace on his face that belong to only a few at that age, he took a little pause, looked at the crowds, and added: 'What I am looking at is history in making. Barack is making history.'

Deeply inspired by the fact that Obama is the first-ever U.S. president of African heritage, Smith and hundreds of thousands of other African Americans from every nook and corner of the country took to the streets of the nation's capital to celebrate.

'This is unprecedented,' said Smith, who came all the way from Jacksonville, Florida. 'I have been here to attend the inaugural ceremonies of Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, but that was nothing compared to this.'

Officials estimate that at least two million people gathered here Tuesday to take part in the festivities that went on until late Tuesday night. They included people of all religious and cultural backgrounds, and age groups.

Braving the freezing temperatures and chilling winds, scores of people with disabilities went to the Mall in wheelchairs and on crutches. Young people danced in the streets despite heavy security restrictions and a massive police presence.

'Obama, Obama,' the crowds roared for hours until the moment the new president finished his inaugural speech. Along with thousands of supporters, Obama and his wife Michelle, who turned 45 last week, also danced at several inaugural balls held in Washington.

Though hopeful and optimistic about the change of political leadership in Washington, some of those who took part in Tuesday's celebrations seemed cautious in their remarks about future prospects. 'Before this our country was segregated,' said Stephanie Raho, a graduate student at George Mason University. 'I am hopeful for peace not only in our country but elsewhere in the world. But let's see what happens.'

Mindful that several popular political leaders in the United States were assassinated in the past, Waho added: 'I am concerned about his [Obama's] safety.'

The crowds at the Mall burst into a loud applause when Obama declared that the United States was 'a friend of each nation'. Many immigrants praised the more tolerant views of the new president because, in their view, past U.S. policies towards them had brought nothing but disaster.

With her eyes glued to a huge television screen showing the swearing-in ceremony, Sujany, a 60-year-old Washington resident, said although she welcomed Obama's message of 'change', she wasn't sure if he would be able to translate that into reality.

'It's not about his skin colour,' she said. 'I pray and hope he will be able to do what he said during his campaign.'

Angelica O'Quinn, who lives with her husband and three year-old son in Alexandria, Virginia, shares that concern. 'We are excited. There is so much expectation,' she said. 'I hope he will live up to our expectations.'

On Tuesday, Obama called his swearing-in 'a new day in America' that would bring about a positive change in lives of American people and the country's dealings with the rest of the world. Taking charge of the White House Tuesday, Obama immediately ordered the closure of the military tribunals at the notorious Guantanamo Bay detention centre in Cuba, a move that is meant to prove he is willing to deliver what he promised during his campaign.

Standing next to Sujany in the crowd was an immigrant from Greece who couldn't wait to have her views heard. 'Listen, I work very hard,' said Sofia, 55, who holds a job in a factory. 'I am not a citizen, but now I am proud of America.'

'We must work hard to help him out,' she added. 'He [Obama] can't do everything by himself.'

She may be right. On the Mall, it was clear that the country's deep ideological divisions were not going to go away soon. There were hundreds of people in the crowd who brought placards and banners denouncing abortion rights, for example.

Devang Shah, a New Yorker of Indian descent, who expressed his displeasure at this display, reflected on the change in the White House in a different way.

'Since our country is willing to accept a mixed race brown man into the White House, I feel it is finally able to think internationally and beyond simple duality,' he told IPS. 'The world is complicated, and Obama exemplifies that web of inter-connectedness.'

In his speech, Obama said: 'We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus and non-believers...Our common humanity shall reveal itself.'

On his first day in office as president, Obama is due to discuss an 825-billion-dollar economic rescue package - as well as the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and a host of other issues.

© Inter Press Service (2009) — All Rights Reserved. Original source: Inter Press Service

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