We Have Arrived: 1.20.09

The sight from the capital steps was filled with millions of Americans, many of whom had arrived at 4am to secure a better view of history soon to be made. When that moment finally arrived, President-Elect standing in front of Justice Roberts, hand on bible, was a visage that seemed like destiny, but still so surreal.

He (correction) slightly stumbled through the oath, but then Barack Hussein Obama our 44th President turned towards the crowd and delivered soaring words that will launch us into a new era. He spoke sweepingly of unity, possibility, necessity and specifically about our role as citizens to participate in our future.

Now is a daunting chapter of time as described by our president, but it is in this darkened period that America will remake itself. To begin this national reboot he uttered one of the better lines of the speech, "as for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. " It was Obama's most singular break from and indictment of the last eight damaging years, and the man soon to board a helicopter and fly off from OZ immediately after the ceremony.

President Obama used a critical historical moment of American resilience to close his speech. He recalled of the crossing of the Delaware when Washington and his troops braved cold long odds to be victorious over an advancing enemy.

Change has come to Washington in the crucible of crisis, we should however feel confident that that among all that which is packed into that word "change" intelligence is foremost. Until we commence analyzing our new president, let us celebrate and be happy Americans.

Here is an email from observer Charley Miller celebrating today's victory for Democracy:

In about 30 minutes, Obama is scheduled to deliver his inaugural speech and I'm sitting here thinking that while many people are talking about the man that will serve as our 44th President, or about the symbol he represents in the eyes of our country's racial struggle, something that seems to be lost is something that has nothing to do with Obama but rather with our country. I think Obama would be the first to remind us that if anything, his inauguration proves our system can work, in the sense we always have another chance -- this thing WE call democracy. And while so much has failed us lately, it's nice to take in today as a sign that democracy ensures that while we don't always get it right, WE can and will keep trying. WE are the people. WE make the change. The whole world is watching.