BS: Happy Inauguration Day!

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: Amos
Date: 23 Jan 09 - 11:00 PM

Aw, Mick, you are at home with the deepest and the best.

Thanks for that.


A

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: Ebbie
Date: 23 Jan 09 - 09:58 PM

I think none of us are surprised- as was noted above, it was cold out there - but NBC just now mentioned that the music that we listened to at the inauguration was prerecorded. Said that they were playing but what they put out is not what we heard.

Now I wonder what instruments they brought out into that cold? Not their best stuff, I hope.

Aretha said the cold affected her singing too, that she wasn't happy with how she sounded. I can imagine how cold her lips must have felt but I thought she sounded great.

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: Big Mick
Date: 23 Jan 09 - 12:46 PM

Pasted from the "That Hat" thread:

In all my life I will never forget the opening moments of her song. I will remember her standing on a portico built by slaves, looking out at the mall and to her right, Pennsylvania Avenue where a scant couple of hundred years ago, there were slave pens and hotels where slaveowners had cells in the basement to "store" their slaves in. I then listened as this "Queen of Soul" started to sing the praises of her country, and when she sang the line, "sweet land of liberty", a tear appeared in the corner of my eye as I thought of all those folks who were denied many liberties for no other reason than what they were born as. Then she sang, "..land where my fathers died..." and the depth of that line, and its multiple meanings for this woman and all folks who remember how so many died..... and I started to sob. Some, as noted in this thread, choose to critique the performance, as did Aretha herself. I choose to listen to the words, and try to intuit what they mean to the singer, and myself, and use them as a means to reach deep into the significance of the event. I find myself pondering what this whole thing means to so many, and on so many levels. For the young ones who did not bear witness during their formative years to the outrages of fire hoses and police dogs, the murder of Martin, Malcom, Medgar, the little girls in the church, young Michael in Mobile, Bobby, John, Michael,James and Andrew in Mississippi, and so many others, .... for these young folks racism is a silly abstract. For those of us who did bear witness it is the beginning of the end of a very long struggle, a major victory along the way to a more perfect union. And for all, the hopes for our country captured in this wondrous family and all our hearts.

Yes, the hat is an eyecatcher. Some will mock, others will explain. But for me it was an expression of a much deeper pride, and for the fearful hope, and a vindication of a people. It was really just a frame for a face that has the depth of the ocean in the times it has come through, and a frame for a voice that was singing with love of country and a dream that has disappointed her so many times.

Why is it, friends, that the folks that have the least reason to express this grace, are the ones that are most filled with it?

Great hat, Aretha.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: CarolC
Date: 23 Jan 09 - 04:55 AM

Unlike George Bush who was not slim?

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: GUEST,Al
Date: 23 Jan 09 - 04:06 AM

One of the criticisms levelled at Obama in the run up to him being elected was that he is not a real American. When you look at him, you can see what they mean... after all, he's slim.

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: Azizi
Date: 23 Jan 09 - 12:31 AM

I quote that saying as it is given in that Quoteland.com blog and at a number of other places:

"Rosa sat so Martin could walk, Martin walked so Obama could run, Obama ran so our children can fly!"

-snip-

Although apparently it was earlier stated as "Rosa Parks sat down so we could stand up. Martin Luther King marched so Jesse Jackson could run. Jesse Jackson ran so Obama could win."

It's going to be interesting to see if and how this saying changes over time.

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: Azizi
Date: 23 Jan 09 - 12:23 AM

Here's a link to a video of a phenomenal song:

Rosa Sat - song for Barack Obama

marsh820
January 17, 2009


"Written and performed by Amy Dixon-Kolar (c) 2008. This was written a few days after November 4, 2008 and was inspired by the quote used as the chorus and the celebrations and photos of this historic day. Photographer Bernie Kleina was kind enough to give permission for me to use his photos of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the murals in the Pilsen area of Chicago.

Recorded December, 2008 by John Abbey, New Soup Studio, Chicago, IL"

**

Apparently this saying is traveling all around the USA and has been found in Ghana and other places in the world. It can be found on a number of blogs and is written on tee shirts and sweat shirts. "Rosa sat so Martin could walk" etc. has been credited to various people, especially to rapper Jay-Z {it may be in one of his raps} But here's a blog post with information about the origini of this saying:

"This was spoken by Cleo Fields at the 9th annual State of the Black Union 2008. A press release describing the event is at http://www.tavistalks.com/pdf/sobu_press_release.pdf

It says:
Panelists observed that Senator Barack Obama's historic run for the White House didn't come out of thin air.
"Rosa Parks sat down so we could stand up. Martin Luther King marched so Jesse Jackson could run. Jesse Jackson ran so Obama could win," said Cleo Fields, former Louisiana State Senator and U.S. Congressman.

Another version appears at http://sociologistsforobama.blogspot.com/ :

Cleo Fields: Putting it all in Perspective
"W. E. B. DuBois started to teach so that Rosa Parks could take a seat. Rosa Parks took a seat so that we could all take a stand. We all took a stand so that Martin Luther King, Jr. could march. Martin Luther King, Jr. marched so that Jesse Jackson could run. Jesse Jackson ran so that Barack Obama could win!"
Cleo Fields at the State of the Black Union February. 23, 2008"
-ontograph

Quoteland.com "Rosa sat so Martin could walk"


**

Also, see this comment from the same blog:

"Ontograph--thank you!

What I find fascinating is the way the folk process operated to streamline the quotation,and to add the mythic element ("our children could fly" has always sounded to me like a reference to "The People Could Fly," the title story from a book of African-American folktales by Virgina Hamilton)
-kmccary

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: Alice
Date: 22 Jan 09 - 06:02 PM

The Richie Havens performance of Here Comes the Sun was from Woodstock. Classic for the baby boomers, and yes, I like it still, but I think what was done on Tuesday was just right.

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: Azizi
Date: 22 Jan 09 - 04:29 PM

Here's a repost of a comment I posted to this Mudcat thread [with minor formating changes]

Lyr Add: As I Grow Older (Langston Hughes)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: As I Grow Older (Langston Hughes)
From: Azizi - PM
Date: 22 Jan 09 - 03:56 PM

Think about what a wonderful role model President Obama is already for all children, but especially for children of color.

Thank goodness this poem by Langston Hudges is no longer true:

CHILDREN'S RHYMES

[Langston Hudges]

By what sends
the white kids
I ain't sent:
I know I can't
be President.
What don't bug
them white kids
sure bugs me:
We know everybody
ain't free.

Lies written down
for white folks
ain't for us a-tall:
Liberty And Justice--
Huh!--For All?

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/children-s-rhymes/

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 22 Jan 09 - 02:06 PM

I love those words, Danny, they're some of my favourite, and ones I've come to learn are so true, at various stages in my life.

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: DannyC
Date: 22 Jan 09 - 01:32 PM

In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer."
-Albert Camus

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 22 Jan 09 - 11:48 AM

Some different music for the Inauguration which I reckon would have gone down a storm! :0)


Richie Havens - Here Comes The Sun

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: Azizi
Date: 22 Jan 09 - 10:08 AM

Here are links to several YouTube videos of President Barack Obama's inauguration:

Barack Obama Inauguration Speech

[This video includes Barack Obama taking the Oath Of Office]

**

Dr. Joseph Lowery delivers Inauguration Benediction for Barack Obama

"MSNBC News: Jan 20, 2009. Dr. Joseph Lowery former president of Southern Christian Leadership conference delivers the benediction as Barack Obama is sworn in as the 44th President of the United States of America."

**

Air and Simple Gifts- Live at the Inauguration

"For the first time, a classical quartet has been invited to participate in the swearing-in ceremony of President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Joseph Biden on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.

It all began when the President-elect had asked Yo Yo Ma and Itzhak Perlman to perform, and they, in turn called John Williams, a frequent collaborator with both artists, "to help them prepare something to play." Mr. Ma chose the other two performers, clarinetist Anthony McGill and pianist Gabriela Montero to round out this unique and diverse quartet."

-snip-

Also, see these summary comments about this quartet from EdithYoung17, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0h2MPm7AiY

"Itzhak Pearlman (Violin), Anthony McGill (Clarinet), Yo Yo Ma (Cello), and Gabriela Montero (Piano) perform "Air & Simple Gifts" at the Obama Presidential Inauguration Ceremony (20 Jan. 2009).
Music arranged especially for the inauguration performance by John Williams. NOTE: This was a LIVE performance, not a playback. Yo Yo Ma had a special cello made for this performance because his primary instrument could not handle the cold temperature; I don't know about the other performer's instruments.

**

Barack Obama Inauguration - Aretha Franklin - Sings 'America' My Country Tis Of


**

For what it's worth, I think that Aretha Franklin's hat was a stylish replication of traditional Nigerian women's headwraps {whic are called "geles" {pronounced gay-lays]in the USA anyway. I'm not sure which language the word "gele" is from.


This website has a number of photos of Nigerian women's headwraps.

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: GUEST,Dani
Date: 22 Jan 09 - 06:59 AM

I read somewhere that after taking the oath again, he said to the press corps, something to the effect of "Now we have to go to 12 more balls"!

He is also a funny dude : )

Dani

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: Azizi
Date: 22 Jan 09 - 12:37 AM

U.S. President Barack Obama took the oath of office a second time on Wednesday at the White House

And, God willing, four years from now minus two days, Barack Obama will be sworn into the office of the President of the United States of America for the 'third' time.

:o)

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: Alice
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 10:57 PM

And it was Roberts who said it wrong on Tuesday. Obama had it memorized, but Roberts, who did not have a script, did not say it correctly, so that's how it became a little mixed up.

From CNN.com

On Tuesday, Roberts, apparently working without a copy of the oath handy on the Capitol steps, started out by reciting a six-word phrase, but Obama broke in halfway through and repeated the first three.

That seemed to throw the chief justice off stride, and he proceeded to mix up the order of the words in the next phrase.

The Constitution sets out the language that should be used in the oath: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

Roberts moved the word "faithfully" back nine spots, and used "to" instead of "of." That threw the president off base, and he smiled and paused to collect his thoughts, then decided to follow Roberts' lead.

But the chief justice at the same time attempted to correct himself.

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: Don Firth
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 09:48 PM

Gollywoggles!! That was a near thing!!

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: Amos
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 09:38 PM

WASHINGTON, Jan 21 (Reuters) - Out of "an abundance of caution," U.S. President Barack Obama took the oath of office a second time on Wednesday at the White House because a word was out of sequence when he was sworn in on Tuesday.

Chief Justice John Roberts, who first administered the oath to Obama on Tuesday on the steps of the U.S. Capitol, administered it again to the president on Wednesday in front of reporters and a few members of the president's staff.

"We believe that the oath of office was administered effectively and that the president was sworn in appropriately yesterday," Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told a hastily gathered group of journalists, quoting a statement from White House counsel Greg Craig.

"But the oath appears in the Constitution itself and, out of an abundance of caution, because there was one word out of sequence, Chief Justice John Roberts will administer the oath a second time."

Then Gibbs ushered reporters into the Map Room, where Obama was waiting, smiling, along with the chief justice. The president visited with journalists and then stood next to Roberts and took the oath again.

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: Alice
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 07:48 PM

Yup, I was thinking, man, it is cold out there, and their fingers must be freezing - but they still have great tone!

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: Wesley S
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 04:29 PM

All I could think of while watching Yo-Yo Ma and Perlman was that I hoped that wasn't their best instruments they were using. As cold as it was I hope they were both using some sort of second tier instruments for use out of doors.

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: CarolC
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 04:22 PM

I was listening to a Constitutional scholar on NPR a little while ago, who said that it would be better if Obama would retake the oath of office. He said that because the oath is in the Constitution in quotation marks, it needs to be recited exactly as it is worded in the Constitution, and that the word, "faithfully" was out of order as Obama said it. He said that casts a cloud that doesn't need to be there. I wish he would retake it, myself.

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 02:48 PM

So he became President while listening to A Gift to Be Simple, aka Lord of the Dance - that's perfect!

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: GUEST,DannyC
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 02:29 PM

Alice,

I finally got to watch the CSPAN rebroadcast of the event late yesterday evening.   Like you , I found the Williams' "Simple Gifts" piece very moving... and made more so by the ethnic composition of the ensemble.   The Jew, The Chinese American, The African-American, The Latino pianist...   

I grew up in a 'melting pot' city environ where we all tended to be rough on each other. What a gift to now enjoy the fluid merging of these once disparate voices - within the construct of Williams' new look into that simple melody.

What a day for transition symbols - Teddy and Byrd and the chairbound Cheney (Were's a 220 Volt outlet when you need one?) and the last look at the smirk on the face of the murdering puppet/prince...

Oh yeah, Aretha Rocked the House... and Lowery brought us all home.

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: CarolC
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 01:36 PM

Cross posted

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: CarolC
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 01:36 PM

According to one commentator, Obama became president at 12 noon, even though he hadn't taken the oath yet.

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: katlaughing
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 01:35 PM

Olbermann on MSNBC said Obama actually became President while YoYo Ma and others were performing. I loved hearing Simple Gifts and laughed in joy to see how happy YoYo was to be there and playing!

I found this: Obama didn't finish taking the oath until 12:05 p.m. That was five minutes after he actually became president under the Constitution.

So, maybe he was already at noon, regardless of the oath-taking? That five minutes doesn't corroborate what MSNBC said, though.

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: Ebbie
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 01:26 PM

Neat, PoppaG. It was a happy crowd.

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: PoppaGator
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 01:22 PM

"...since Bush's term ended at 10 noon [sic], and Obama wasn't sworn in until 12.07, who, if anyone, was president for those seven minutes? Biden?"

Technically, I think it would have been Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Neither Cheney nor Biden would have been VP at the time.

**************************

An amazing statistic I heard on this morning's Today show: All those millions corwding the streets of DC, and not a single arrest! Says a lot not only about the citizenry, but also about the event and the man inspiring such a huge assembly.

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: Ebbie
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 01:22 PM

I was wondering about that, McGrath. Welcome to the flub- I mean, CLUB. :)

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 01:10 PM

...since Bush's term ended at 10 noon... Sorry - I mean 12 noon. These Bushisms can be infectious...

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: Don Firth
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 12:58 PM

Well, I don't think so. The Fox News crew is not known for being funny. At least, not intentionally funny.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: Amos
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 12:56 PM

" ...After thanking President Bush "for his service to our nation," Mr. Obama executed a high-level version of Stephen Colbert's share-the-stage smackdown of W. at the White House correspondents' dinner in 2006.

With W. looking on, and probably gradually realizing with irritation, as he did with Colbert, who Mr. Obama's target was — (Is he talking about me? Is 44 saying I messed everything up?) — the newly minted president let him have it:

"As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals," he said to wild applause (and to Bartlett's), adding: "Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake." He said America is choosing hope over fear, unity over discord, setting aside "false promises" and "childish things."

Letting a little air out of the highest hopes about what one man, even "The One," can do, he emphasized the word "our." He stressed that rebuilding after the wreckage of W. and Cheney will be a shared burden and that "giving our all to a difficult task" isn't as bad as it sounds.

I grew up here, and it was the first time I've ever seen the city wholly, happily integrated, with a mood redolent of New York in the weeks after 9/11. The Obamas have made an unprecedented pledge to get involved in the real city that lies beyond the political Oz, and have already started doing so in many ways, including starting the night out at the D.C. Neighborhood Inaugural Ball.

Downtown was a euphoric pedestrian mall of commerce and communal kindness. The patience that America is extending to Mr. Obama, according to a Times poll, was reflected across the capital, as the cram of people sparked warmth rather than antsiness...." (Maureen Dowd, NYT)

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 12:49 PM

Surely that was intended as a joke of sorts.

The other point - raised by that paper identified by some as "far left", the Guardian - is, since Bush's term ended at 10 noon, and Obama wasn't sworn in until 12.07, who, if anyone, was president for those seven minutes? Biden?

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: Don Firth
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 12:17 PM

By the way, regarding Chris Wallace of Faux News questioning whether or not Obama is legitimately the president because he verbally stumbled while taking the oath, I just heard on NPR this morning that Obama had memorized the oath, and when Chief Justice Roberts goofed by changing the order of words, it threw Obama off stride.

Hardly a matter for the courts, and if it were, Chief Justice Roberts should be the defendant,

Honestly, that bunch at Fox News Service must be a collection of Keystone Kops rejects! Can't find their own butts with both hands and a copy of Gray's Anatomy!

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 11:43 AM

Lots of strange moments like that - for example a marching band passing the President playing "We Shall Overcome".

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: Ebbie
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 11:43 AM

Senator Feinstein introduced the tune(s) as 'Airs and Simple Gifts'. Is Airs an actual tune or is it just flourishes?

I thought the choice of musicians was incredible. Itzhak Perlman and Yo Yo Ma together - how often do you hear that? And the clarinetist wasn't too shabby either. :)

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: Alice
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 11:05 AM

That "classical piece" was immediately recognized by Amercans as Simple Gifts "Tis a gift to be simple, tis a gift to be free...".
music at Obama's inauguration, you tube

One of the comments on you tube was from someone who was there in person.
"I heard this live, today. (well, yesterday, by now). I wasn't expecting to at all, and in the cold standing there like a sardine with the worst headache I've ever had in the world, to hear this from out of the blue was just the most incredible thing ever."

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 10:56 AM

Those of us here who voted for Obama have to be careful what we say, and to whom.

But I would wager that if they did a poll right now they would find there are a whole lot more people who remember voting for Obama than actually did...

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 10:12 AM

You know, there was one thing that didn't work for me yesterday, and that was the music.

I'm sitting here listening to 'The Times They Are A-Changing' at the moment, Richie Havens version..and I feel a huge opportunity was missed in having some big name musicians up there from the past and the present, playing some inspirational songs from another era when things were changing around the world.

I know there was a concert the day before, but wouldn't it have been great if so many young people had gone away from that Inauguration with some incredible songs ringing in their ears?

Let's face it, the classical piece by John Williams has already drifted right out of my mind...

What an opportunity to let go.

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 09:13 AM

There is a gorgeous photo in todays paper over here of Obama's daughter giving him the thumbs up!

We watched the live coverage yesterday, what a wonderful ceremony and a great speech!

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: Joe Offer
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 04:54 AM

Damn. If I didn't know better, I'd say AR232 is trolling....

AR would be right home here in Placer County, California. Those of us here who voted for Obama have to be careful what we say, and to whom. I went to Berkeley this evening, and everybody was celebrating. It felt a whole lot better there.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: GUEST,AR282
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 03:55 AM

How many of you out there were only watching the inauguration to see if he gets shot?        

People should relax about Barack Obama becoming president.
Have you ever known a black man to keep a job for four years?

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: open mike
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 01:44 AM

here is the link to the poetry thread
http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=117884&messages=3

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_Culture

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: open mike
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 01:40 AM

What a wonderful day to be glad to be an American.....finally@!

I posted the text of the inaugural poem in the "inaugural poem" thread.

there have been several mentions of the time when Robert Frost was delivering the poem for President Kennedy's Inauguration and the wind
blew the paper away. He recited another poem from memory.

over 2 million people there in below freezing temperatures to experience this historic occasion.

Oh , Joy!!

Odetta would have loved Aretha's singing!

Obama's daughters skipping out to the ceremony was delightful.

I hear that he may create a cabinet position of Minister of Culture.

Apparently we are one of the few countries who does not have such an office as Director of Art or Culture.

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 20 Jan 09 - 09:50 PM

Well, I TRIED to go to the "End of an Error" bash at The Press Room tonight. I worked until 8 and that's when the party (with the Leftist Marching Band and a bunch of other fine musicicians) was set to start. Only took me 15 minutes or so to drive there from work, find a parking place only a block away and walk in the door.

Alas, I think the legal capacity of upstairs had been reached BEFORE 8 -- and most of the Leftist Marching Band didn't arrive until I was leaving. I waited in line for about a half an hour, chatting with friends as well as people I'd never seen before -- but the line wasn't moving and didn't look like it would soon. No one could go upstairs until bodies left. Sigh.

As someone said, "That's what happens when parties are posted on FaceBook.

Yeah. I'm glad I went. I'm glad I was part of even standing in line. But my feet gave out and I went home to raise a beer to Obama and toast a country finally aiming in the right direction.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: Ebbie
Date: 20 Jan 09 - 09:47 PM

Thanks, McGrath. I really thought that on last night's news they mentioned that as being Lowery's age. In any case, I loved the man.

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: Amos
Date: 20 Jan 09 - 09:26 PM

Nickhere:

Oh, for shame-- Grover was a different man the second time around, obviously. ANd may I say that to imply this slight historical error as equivalent of Bushisms with their egregious defiance of intelligence, grammar and literacy, is most un-even-handed of you.
\




A

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 20 Jan 09 - 08:55 PM

I liked the way Michelle Obama reacted to that mix-up with the oath - amused tolerance. Not the least surprised, you could almost see her saying "typical man". It's the kind of thing that happens at weddings.

I bet he'll get teased about that by her and the kids. (And I'll bet he makes a joke about it when he comes to be inaugurated again in 2013.)
And it was reassuring to see that he's always not quite as cool and in control inside as he manages to look on the outside.
.............................

Rev Lowery 90? Not quite - I see he was born October 1921. Still, what with Pete Seeger on Sunday that says something about how it can be good for the body as well as the soul to throw yourself into working for civil rights!   That benediction and Pete singing "This Land" were two of the high points of the inauguration triduum.

And here's a glorious YouTube clip I just came across of Rev Lowery from 2007, looking forward to the day the people of the USA might turn "Good Crazy" and elect Barack Obama President.

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: Charley Noble
Date: 20 Jan 09 - 08:36 PM

Azizi-

Thanks for posting the entire remarks from Rev. Lowery's benediction, and the notes.

I well remember Josh White singing the Big Bill Broonzy song.

What joy!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Happy Inauguration Day!
From: Amos
Date: 20 Jan 09 - 08:11 PM

Wallace is a mental turd, Ebbie. End of story.


A