I was there. Inauguration 2009

I witnessed a little piece of history, as Barack Obama was sworn into office on January 20, 2009. The crowd was immense and celebratory, to put it mildly. But they were also respectful. The roar of the applause was deafening, but when Mr. Obama began to speak, the crowd fell silent instantly. A new kind of patriotism is being sown here. It is a patriotism that finds its strength among those who previously may have been dissenters or skeptics. It is a patriotism that capitalizes on the enthusiasm of the young and idealistic, and which is the fruit of the struggles of life-worn elder statesmen and activists. It is a new day. (Continued below)

I was able to secure a press pass on behalf of George Mason Law School, which allowed me to shoot images from access-restricted high vantage points and to bypass some of the bottlenecks in the crowded passageways. From above the crowd, I watched as a sea of close to two million people cheered and waved small American flags that volunteers handed out freely.

The Orange line on the Metro was packed all morning, starting with the first trains at 4:30am. It took at least an hour to make it from Clarendon to Federal Triangle. On the way home, I decided the 5-mile walk from the Capitol back to Clarendon would be faster and more comfortable than braving the Metro system. I think I was right, even taking into consideration the circuitous route I was forced to take (from the Capitol to L'Enfant Plaza to the Jefferson Memorial, and over the Route 66 bridge to Rosslyn, then back up to Clarendon). The first mile or so of walking was shoulder-to-shoulder pedestrian traffic, and there was a complete standstill at one point when emergency vehicles had to be brought in to help with an apparent heart attack.

It was cold. Especially up on the accordion lift where there was no protection from the wind. I had dressed warmly, but eventually the cold was able to seep past my multiple layers of protection. My toes, especially, were cold. But I can hardly complain. Only a handful of people had access to those lifts, and I was among them. On the way back, I snapped pictures of the frozen Potomac (this is a separate photo gallery). (Continued below)

I voted for Barack Obama. I actually voted for him. I didn't merely vote for the one that I thought would do the least amount of harm, or that annoyed me the least, as in presidential elections past. Democracy feels entirely different and much more fulfilling when you support a candidate. In my case, I supported him not only with my vote, but with my own money and volunteer hours. I made phone calls to potential supporters on the primary election day in Virginia, and again on election day as a part of the get-out-the vote effort. I actually cared who won, and I worked to make it happen.

This doesn't mean that I look to Obama to cure the nation of all its ills. He can't do it, nor should he. What he can do, though, is provide some clear and steady leadership and optimism. This country needs both. Obama is still very human. He will make mistakes and create policies with which I will disagree. He cannot possibly accomplish all that he hopes to accomplish. Even so, I believe he is by far the best person for the job at this time in the history of our country. I have believed so for at least two years now, from the beginning of the run-up to this day. Time will tell if I am right or not.