Thoughtfully thinking, perhaps I just have the Inauguration Blues.
Soon Barak Obama will be sworn into the President's Office Jan. 20th, 2009. The inauguration taking place at noon on the steps of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. The Chief Justice John Roberts, Jr., an appointee of outgoing President Bush, will oversee the changing of the guard by administering the Presidential oath, which traditionally is done with one hand on a Bible. All totally official and need in duty. But ...
In regard to all the celebration, has anyone considered the why of it?
Yes, it is all very traditional for our new President, mixed with much pomp and circumstance, in fact enough to make one weary. But couldn't it just end with the official swearing in? It doesn't. Not one iota. The celebrations go on and on and on and on.
For the first time in history, the length of the National Mall will be open to those wishing to attend the swearing-in ceremony. Festivities will commence at 10 a.m. on the West front of the U.S. Capitol and will include:
• Musical Selections: The United States Marine Band, followed by The San Francisco Boys Chorus and the San Francisco Girls Chorus
• Call to Order and Welcoming Remarks: Senator Dianne Feinstein
• Invocation: Dr. Rick Warren
• Musical Selection: Aretha Franklin
• Vice President-elect Joseph R. Biden, Jr. will be sworn into office by Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, the Honorable John Paul Stevens
• Musical Selection: John Williams, composer/arranger with Itzhak Perlman, (violin), Yo-Yo Ma (cello), Gabriela Montero (piano) and Anthony McGill (clarinet)
• President-elect Barack H. Obama will take the Oath of Office, using President Lincoln’s Inaugural Bible, administered by the Chief Justice of the United States, the Honorable John G. Roberts, Jr.
• Inaugural Address
• Poem: Elizabeth Alexander
• Benediction: The Reverend Dr. Joseph E. Lowery
• The National Anthem: The United States Navy Band “Sea Chanters”
Please don't forget all the Special Events that have already taken place:
Last Sunday - begins at 2:30 p.m. Beyonce, U2, Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp, Usher, Shakira, Sheryl Crow, Josh Groban and James Taylor are among the musicians scheduled to perform.
• Presidential Inaugural Luncheon and Fashion Show at the Ritz-Carlton.
• EMILY's List Inaugural Luncheon with scheduled guests including Cabinet appointees Hillary Rodham Clinton and Janet Napolitano, Sens. Kay Hagan and Jeanne Shaheen, and North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue.
• African-American Church Inaugural Ball at the Grand Hyatt Washington.
• 2009 Latino Inaugural Gala with Marc Anthony at Union Station.
• Aloha Inaugural Ball, organized by former Obama campaign workers, held at the Wardman Park Marriott Hotel at 7:30 p.m.
Monday - National Day of Community Service event: To honor the Rev. Marthin Luther King's legacy, Obama, Biden and their families, joined by Americans across the country, will participate in activities dedicated to serving others in communities across the Washington, D.C. , area.
• Black Tie & Boots Inaugural Ball, sponsored by the Texas State Society, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center.
• Green Inaugural Ball at the Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture. Ball hosted by former Vice President Al Gore.
• Huffington Post inaugural ball at the Newseum.
• Hip-Hop Inaugural Ball at the Harman Center for the Arts. Hosted by the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, Russell Simmons, LL Cool J, among others.
• A children's evening concert at the Verizon Center honoring military families. Event hosted by Michelle Obama, who will attend. Miley Cyrus, the Jonas Brothers are among the entertainers.
• Obama to attend three private dinners to honor former secretary of State Colin Powell, Biden and Sen. John McCain, the 2008 Republican presidential nominee, for their public service. Dinners at the Hilton Washington, National Building Museum and Union Station.
After President Obama gives his Inaugural Address, he will escort outgoing President George W. Bush to a departure ceremony before attending a luncheon in the Capitol’s Statuary Hall. The 56th Inaugural Parade will then make its way down Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the White House with groups traveling from all over the country to participate.
Later that day, the Presidential Inaugural Committee will host ten official Inaugural Balls.
• Neighborhood Inaugural Ball at the Washington Convention Center.
• Obama Home States (Illinois and Hawaii) Inaugural Ball at the Washington Convention Center.
• Biden Home States (Pennsylvania and Delaware) Inaugural Ball at the Washington Convention Center.
• Midwest Inaugural Ball at the Washington Convention Center.
• Mid-Atlantic Inaugural Ball at the Washington Convention Center.
• Western Inaugural Ball at the Washington Convention Center.
• Commander in Chief's Ball at the National Building Museum.
• Southern Inaugural Ball at the National Guard Armory.
• Eastern Inaugural Ball at Union Station.
• Youth Inaugural Ball at the Washington Hilton.
Unofficial balls include:
• Congressional Black Caucus Inaugural Ball at the Capitol Hilton.
• Creative Coalition Inaugural Ball at the Harman Center for the Arts.
• Recording Industry Association of America's ball for Feeding America.
• BET's Inaugural Ball at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.
• Africa on the Potomac inaugural celebration at Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Va.
• American Music Inaugural Ball at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel.
• Inaugural Purple Ball at the Fairmont Hotel.
• Human Rights Campaign's Equality Ball at the Renaissance Mayflower Hotel.
• Inaugural Peace Ball at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum.
• Impact Film Fund ball.
With our U.S. Government running in the 'Red'; yet still handing out trillions of dollars to begging hands, along with many U.S States that are going 'Bankrupt' as we speak; not to forget to mention all the Cities facing a coffer filled with nothing and yet seeing the American Depression exploding all around; plus the Unemployment figures raising daily; along with so many business large and small that have Closed their doors, and our Globalization that has left America without any sovereignty, not to forget the War efforts that we are still funding daily ... what in blue blazes are we doing?
Yes, that is a complete run on sentence, but so is the whole Inauguration Tradition, especially at this devastating time in our American History. The only thing this spells out is America's hypocritical and greedy nature, with no sense of humility or remorse in its actions or reactions to the times we are living in.
With so many great minds that abound in the Washington Inauguration scene, you would think someone would take a stand and end this gallant plagiaristic circus. You would think an astute Politician would put the breaks on somewhere in the mix of all of this and say ... "No, this is not what America is all about, especially in the wake of what we are all facing today!"
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Comments: 10
What it truly right for our Government (since they are still public servants) to do for themselves & for us right now is NOT to party!
Is the show of tradition & entertainment worth the cost of nobility and honor?
... so I guess we eat, drink, and make merry ...
We need to dig beneath the surface ... the portion that 'looks' good, 'sounds' good, 'feels' good.
I really hope to see President Obama make the changes he says our country needs & we know that is so dearly past time - but without the song & dance.
I am still hopeful, but something deep inside of me keeps me from believing the whole litany that has been & keeps being dished out to us by our leaders. There is the reality of life that tells us likewise & research which will reveal the truths.