When the drums rolled

By Maheen A. Rashdi

The sheer numbers were overwhelming. A price tag of $150 million; a head count of two million stretched over three kilometers; up to 7000 portable toilets and 42,500 security personnel including police, soldiers, sailors, national guardsmen and undercover agents. These are just some of the staggering details that were part of the ‘inaugromania’ that kept the world’s eyes glued on one man who has become a Messiah of sorts for the American nation.
The inauguration on January 20, 2009, of the 44th president of the United States of America has in itself made history. Billed as probably the most watched event of all times, there was no shortage of newsy titbits that kept the North American presses churning and the cameras rolling with news anchors trying to coin as many significant testimonials as their over Obama-ed mind could cook up.
It was designed to be a day to remember. His ‘inaugural journey’ started three days earlier in a shiny blue railroad car from the 1930s that wound southwest from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C. A pledge on his part to bring the nation ‘a new Declaration of Independence,’ by retracing the path Abraham Lincoln took in 1861. Having structured his campaign on Lincoln’s dogma of unifying America, it is not surprising that he followed the route.
In the days preceding the inauguration, the scene at the nation’s capital was ‘not like any before’ said those who have witnessed other inaugurations. Visitors and locals had put camp since before daybreak at the National Mall, in front of the Lincoln Memorial. They could neither sit nor have coffee or carry any food or beverage with them. And in freezing temperatures, it could only be real love warming their hearts to make them brave it out so enthusiastically.
Like any red carpet event where the star power is centred on fashion, the First Lady’s dress(es) too had been much mused over. With all eyes on what she would wear, fashion gurus gleefully gave her the full thumbs up as she officially entered the world stage in a sparkling sheath dress and matching coat in yellow-gold for the swearing-in ceremony (though the olive green gloves could have been a shade lighter I thought!).
For the ten inaugural balls that followed she wore a white, one-shouldered chiffon gown designed by a 26-year-old Taiwan born U.S. designer, Jason Wu, whose price tags are ‘accessible’ and more for the working classes. Her accessories and her daughters’ clothes both were from a chain store, blending practicality with grace – an indication of her demeanour as first lady.
And it seemed the President was smitten anew with his lady as he asked the crowd when he came out at the first ball, “How good looking is my wife?”
A little note here on Michelle Obama, who is increasingly cutting a striking figure by bringing in her own fashion style to become the next iconic First Lady since Jackie O. She is a Princeton-Harvard graduate from among the blue-chip lawyers and a hospital administrator with a six-figure salary who supported the family through her President husband’s community job days when he was still struggling with his college debts. But so far the public has only glimpsed her well-toned body, not her professional competencies which she has put on hold to lend her support to seeing her husband through to the White House. But her countenance shows that besides this ‘Stepford wife’ side of hers, she will soon be giving the media more substance than her fashion sense.
For Obama, who became ‘beyond celebrity’ as president-elect, it was a daunting task to raise the bar any further at the inauguration ceremony. And with a ‘saturation level fame’, how much bigger and better could it get? So with a billion eyes via air waves, plus two million pairs watching from the ground, there occurred that unwanted slip and fumble at the most significant moment of his day. With so much hype, something was bound to happen.
The guffaw of Chief Justice John G. Roberts has now become the most discussed aspect of the event. A note here on the CJ too. Incidentally, as Senator, Obama had voted against John G. Roberts’ appointment as Chief Justice but in an ironic turn of events he was sworn in by him – twice! To not leave doubt in any naysayers’ mind, the Chief Justice was asked to the White House again the next day to re-administer the oath and this time reportedly the President said, “We’ll do it slowly.”
Powered as the most important inauguration since George Washington’s, there was un-ending speculation about his speech and how many quotable quotes it would carry. So when the new president’s first words rang out in sober tones across the crowds, transcending US borders and reaching out to the world with worthy but simple expressions, the media, waiting to pounce on some unforgettable rhetoric for the headlines was left confounded. But to me, that was the best component. Passionate rhetoric was substituted with earnest sentiment. There was purpose in his ambition, which was not just about a bigger America but about lending a helping hand to make a better world. The Republican analysts of course were quick to condemn his jabs at the Bush government, though one would think that the Republicans are used to Bush bashing!
With record low approval ratings and intense criticism, the papers sent the 43rd President home with the title of being the ‘worst president in history.’ Some of the headlines were; ‘Back end of the Bush;’ ‘End of an error;’ ‘Was the Bush era tragedy or farce?’ And parts of Obama’s speech were meant to rankle the Republican state of mind, “…a nation cannot prosper long when it favours only the prosperous…”
Lengthy commentary has additionally taken place on the olive branch held out to the Muslim world. Critics have however commented that to indicate that the ‘Muslim world’ is a world apart from the West is to fall into the pit that is dug by the likes of Bin Laden. However seeing the good intent, it was a bold statement in itself which almost smirked at the Jewish lobby which has its claws deep in the most important citadel of the world.
A Toronto Star editorial put it fittingly; “Few presidents have inspired such enthusiasm. Even fewer have faced such challenges.”
He now has to walk the talk and speculation is rife on whether he has the will and gumption to do it. His first 100 days have kicked off with a round of goodwill calls to the Middle East leaders and by counteracting Bush’s ‘mis-judgments’ at a feverish pace. Guantanamo has been shut and lobbying banned. Oh, how the likes of Cheney would be squirming! And here’s another interesting side story. Why do you think Cheney was in a wheel chair? He sprained his back moving boxes while emptying his office! One would think that there would be others doing that. In fact, changing of the order at the White House is perhaps one of the most organized processes carried out during the inaugural ceremony. One batch of movers comes in to remove the previous inmates’ belongings and another comes in to set it up with the new inhabitants’ stuff. A neat, two-hour, 90-men, operation. So why did Cheney feel the need to move the file boxes himself? Bears thinking doesn’t it!
If nothing, at least Obama will bring in some intellect to the table. Like Haroon Siddiqui from The Star wrote, “Obama has put intelligent debate back at the heart of American democracy that had made a virtue of ignorance.”