My Name is Kris and I Blah-g

I hadn’t planned on watching the inauguration. The build up and hype was wearing pretty thin. But then I happened upon Mom watching TV this morning and it was just as all the dignitaries were walking in and things were about to begin. The thought did occur to me that although I wasn’t thrilled with the outcome of the election, today is a historic day no matter who was taking the oath of office and well, being the political junky that I can be sometimes, I wanted to check it out. As the former presidents paraded to the stand I felt wistful as I watched President Bush. I mentioned to Mom that I felt like the last person in America who liked the guy. I am not sad to see his administration end. I am actually relieved that the hate talk may subside. 8 years of animosity is a lot for a regular person to take let alone a president who by the weight of his obligations and responsibilities has much to be stressed about. To be in politics one must have thick skin which is why I will never be president. Still, I feel sorrow for President Bush because from day 1 he was never given a chance. The arrows were slung before the last recount was made. He was treated unfairly from the beginning and never garnered the respect that anyone who is called President should have. I may not agree with Obama’s politics and I may pick on him from time to time. But he is our president now. Therefore a certain amount of respect is owed. It won’t, however, keep me from drawing dreads on him in my Obama calendar. I do have my limits! That being said, though, the ceremony was good. His speech was well crafted and delivered. It will be remembered as a huge moment in American history and rightfully so. As I sat there listening, I was trying to reconcile just what my problem has been this past week leading up to this moment and I would have to say that the overblown coverage and worship has vexed me most. Obama has had music rewritten for him (Solid As A Rock has now been released as Solid as Barack). His swearing in ceremony will have a soundtrack (music arranged by John Williams and performed by nearly every popular classical musicians). As the camera panned the sea of people assembled on the Mall, there were signs and hats and tshirts and people waving their fingers at the cameras screaming “We’re number 1!!” Who? Americans? Or the Democrats? Black people? Who? It was odd. It wasn’t humble or serious at all. There is a solemnity that comes with this moment. To President Obama’s credit, he was adequately solemn. He didn’t perpetuate the weirdness of the events that have been going on the past few days – at least that I could tell. But there is a frenzy that has been brewing for a while now regarding this man. Lest we all forget – he is JUST a man. He is one man. For those who have been so quick to blame President Bush for every failing in America, how quickly will they defend this one man for similar failings? Will they chalk it up to inexperience? Will they give him a pass because as a black man, who are we to criticize? Who is to say. I don’t know what lies ahead. I hope he can prove us all wrong. And I hope he means what he said today in that he’ll honor the sacrifices of those who died for our freedoms and helped pave the way to his presidency. I hope he keeps our laws in tact and doesn’t distort them for his own gain. I hope he is a good president and I wish him well. And I still think he needs to grow dreads….