Inauguration 2013

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is one of my favorite leaders of all time.  His quote "Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that.  Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that," is as relevant now as it was when he uttered the words over 50 years ago.  Because of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, my office was closed today.  I enjoyed my day off and a three-day weekend is always appreciated.  I find it very ironic that MLK Day and the inauguration of President Barack Obama occurred on the same day.  The careers of these two leaders have been compared since President Obama became the 44th President four years ago.  For many African Americans who lived during the Civil Rights era, today must have been a remarkable one.  Many of them probably never thought they would see a day when the Office of the President was occupied by a minority.  

I watched CNN from approximately 9:30 a.m. until about 9:00 pm.  I saw President Obama deliver his Inaugural speech, which was excellent, as always.  He is one of the most gifted orators in the world and today he delivered, per usual.  He spoke in terms of "we" and "us" and he concluded his speech in less than twenty minutes.  During the speech, I reflected about the United States and how far the country has progressed.  Just fifty years ago, Jim Crow was the law of the land that oppressed many citizens.  Now, President Obama is in his second term as President of the United States of America.  Progress.  

Sometimes, the media covers side stories that are a part of the bigger picture.  Michelle Obama's dress fits that description.  Her outfit was nice, but that is really nothing new.  Vice President Joe Biden seems to be a natural politician and he obviously loves interacting with the public.  As Biden made his way to the White House, he ran and shook hands and generally had a great time interacting with the public.  His behavior was funny because the CIA agents assigned to protect him looked frustrated.  They looked like they wanted to tell him to stick to the script but it is difficult to tell your employer what to do.  Beyonce sang the Star Spangled Banner.  It looked like she experienced technical difficulties during singing of the song, but she pulled it off masterfully without a glitch.  

Some of My Favorite Images from Inauguration 2013:

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.

First Family.

Jay-Z and Beyonce.




Peace