Despite freezing temperatures, an estimated 1.8 million people crowded the National Mall in Washington D.C. Jan. 20 to witness the inauguration of Barack Obama, the nation’s 44th president and the first African-American to occupy the White House.
‘Immediately after he took the oath of office, there were cannons going off and the crowd was celebrating,? said Julie Maslowsky, a 2000 graduate of Oxford High School. ‘It just felt like a moment of renewal, like the absolute beginning of a new era. That moment, when it was official, was my favorite.?
Plenty of folks with Oxford ties made the trip to the nation’s capital to witness this historic moment.
A man carrying a sign that read ‘From Slavery to History? summed things up nicely for Oxford Elementary teacher Barbara Johnston, who was there with fellow OES educator Shanie Williams.
‘I think that says it all right there. We’ve come along way,? Johnston said. ‘I thought I’d be an elderly person before I saw an African-American become president.?
It was fitting that Obama took the oath of office just weeks before the 200th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln’s birth, the man who freed the slaves in 1863.
Even OHS senior Chase Tucker, who was a supporter of Republican presidential candidate John McCain, couldn’t help but be impressed by the whole experience.
‘At first, I wasn’t as excited as I was before the election because my guy didn’t win,? he said. ‘But when I got there my mindset changed. It was truly an experience that I’ll remember for the rest of my life.?
Although Tucker, who went with a group of 16 OHS students, said he still has ‘doubts about (Obama’s) abilities,? he was ‘inspired by his words.?
‘I’m just going to wait and see how he does,? he said. ‘From what you see, he seems to be really dedicated to doing a good job and serving his country.?
Johnston and Williams said they could literally feel the crowd’s ‘new-found respect? and ‘confidence? in their national government.
‘I think people are really starting to trust now because (Obama’s) actually putting his words into action,? Williams said. ‘He’s not waiting. He’s doing it now. He’s not afraid to take chances. He’s not afraid to step up for what’s right.?
People relate to Obama because ‘he’s for the people, not the executives and the high-ups,? in Williams? opinion.
Johnston said Obama’s inaugural address reminded her of speeches given by Lincoln and President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
‘It’s almost like he took a little bit from each,? she said.
Although President Obama was the main attraction, many who attended the inauguration remarked on how impressed they were by the crowd, not just in terms of numbers and diversity, but with regard to people’s behavior.
‘To have that many people and there were no problems is amazing,? Johnston said. ‘There was nobody intoxicated, nobody acting bad at all. No one was even complaining about having to wait in line in the cold.?
Williams said it ‘shocked? her that nearly two million people could be in the same place and ‘all get along.? She said it was a real testament to people’s ‘belief in change.?
Johnston was astounded at the precision with which the event was orchestrated by officials at all levels.
‘I couldn’t believe how organized it all was,? she said.
People patiently stood in line for hours and hours at security checkpoints, waiting to have their bags and purses searched and bodies patted down before they entered the Mall.
‘Once you got through security it was a free-for-all,? Williams said. ‘They took off running to get as close as they could.?
‘It was like horses out of the gate,? Johnston said.
Maslowsky, who’s now a doctoral candidate at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, commented on how ‘very informed? the crowd was about everything from Obama’s policies to his recent cabinet appointees.
During the election, the Obama campaign was criticized by some for generating, as Maslowsky put it, an ’empty enthusiasm? that was based more on pop culture than substantive politics.
But from what she observed from talking with and listening to people at the inauguration, that criticism simply wasn’t true.
‘We met people from all over the country, from every race and socioeconomic background, and they all knew why they were there,? Maslowsky said. ‘It had nothing to do with rock star appeal or being excited for the sake of being excited. There was a lot of substance to their enthusiasm.?
Overall, Maslowsky said ‘there was a real feeling of transition, cleansing and renewal.?
‘I was so glad to be there and witness it.?