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After our morning at the Capitol, we made our way over to the Lincoln Memorial for the "We Are One" Concert which was to feature a range of political, celebrity, and musical appearances before an expected crowd of up to 500,000. We were plenty early as we made our way through the masses and it gave us a chance to scan the hundreds of items available to buy from the countless vendors. Shirts, towels, buttons, flags, you name it, it probably has Obama's picture on it and you're going to pay a a lot of pennies for it. Once inside the grounds, we found the press section nestled below the right side of the stage with a nice view, though the set pieces and a jumbotron obscured our view of one of the two onstage podiums as well as the actual Lincoln Memorial, but, still, we weren't complaining. We dodged CNN's John Roberts as he filmed a report from our corral and set up position for the show.
The concert itself was pretty much what we expected. Subjected to a series of pre-show videos, some benign and some inane (like the Elmo video), we passed the time by taking in the scene and the thousands of people milling about the area. It turns out, unlike a lot of things with the federal government, this show started and finished right on time. The introduction of the families of the Vice President- and President-Elect followed the invocation by gay Episcopal bishop Gene Robinson, in which Robinson asked for "the understanding that our new president is a human being, not a messiah," soliciting a hearty chuckle from the press corral. As the Obamas took their seat, Maliah snapped pictures with a digital camera and Sasha settled in for a performance of her own as she alternated between enraptured and bored throughout the event.
Things got rolling quickly as Denzel Washington called Obama inspiring and Bruce Springsteen, backed by a gospel choir, stormed through a terrific acoustic version of "The Rising." Alternating between presentations and performances, the event moved at a fairly brisk clip. Mary J. Blige performed "Lean on Me" after an appearance by actress Laura Linney and Martin Luther King III. Jamie Foxx, appearing alongside Steve Carrell, slayed the crowd with a terrific impression of Obama while reading an excerpt from his Obamapalooza victory speech which was followed by a stirring rendition of Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come" by Betty LaVette and Jon Bon Jovi. It was John Cougar Mellencamp, though, who brought down the house. Backed by a gospel choir, The Coug played "Pink Houses" as the crowd sang along, as full as energy as The Coug himself. Many of the multiple artist pairings weren't as awkward as they appeared on paper: will.i.am and Sheryl Crow's rendition of "One Love" with Herbie Hancock was solid as was Usher and Shakira joining Stevie Wonder for "Higher Ground." It seemed like Tiger Woods had a longer speech than Biden, and Garth Brooks got more face time than any of them.
U2 took the stage and thundered through "In The Name Of Love," a song that seems like it was meant for a moment like this, and Bono created the day's lone political stir with this shout: "Not just an American dream, but an Irish dream, a European dream, an Israeli dream, a Palestinian dream!" They followed with "City Of Blinding Lights" (what, no "Beautiful Day"?). Next was the man of the hour, the President-Elect, who delivered the kind of inspiring speech that we expected of him. Tempering expectations ("I won't pretend that meeting any one of these challenges will be easy. It will take more than a month or a year, and it will likely take many.") Obama also offered cautious optimism, saying he was "as hopeful as ever that the United States of America will endure - that it will prevail, that the dream of our founders will live on in our time." Following Obama's speech, Bruce Springsteen returned to the stage, joined by folk hero Pete Seeger, Seeger's son, and a childrens choir signing "This Land is Your Land." And bringing it all back home was Beyonce, who sang "America The Beautiful" joined by the choir and the other guests on stage.
But what did it all mean? I'd be lying if there weren't times I didn't personally caught up in the event. Any performance of "The Rising" by Springsteen will get me going, ever since I saw him perform it at the first post-Katrina JazzFest. And many of the other singers gave stirring performances. But was it all style and no substance? It's easy to see how Obama's detractors could use this event to further claims of Obama as a celebrity president. But all it took was to turn around and see the crowd, stretching as far as you could see (and then even further) to understand the underlying significance of the moment for all the celebrity sheen. Never in my generation has any politician inspired so many people to this extent. And that's what we take away from yesterday's event: not the parade of stars and singers, but the throngs of people who jumped and shouted and sang along. Every time the jumbotrons showed the Obamas onscreen, the crowd roared its approval and Chicagoist writer Kevin Robinson described the way the crowd swayed and sang along to "This Land Is Your Land" as "the national kum ba yah moment."
If anything, all aspects of the show seemed to serve as a gentle reminder to the people gathered at the Lincoln Memorial (and stretching all the way back to the Washington Monument) that we the people are the catalyst for change. As both Robinson and Obama pointed out, no one man changes everything and nothing happens without our action. While while the day's theme of unity was underscored by the performances and the many references to Martin Luther King, it likely didn't do much to bring conservatives together with their celebratory liberal brethren, so there's still work to do. And yet, there is still reason for optimism. Earlier in the day, a video of FDR's famous, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself" speech was shown. We wondered before the election who in the hell would want this job, to be President of a nation in dire straits. Now we know, and he's jumping in head first and we have to be willing to follow.
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I will say one thing for democrats, they do get a better class of celebrity for these things. Bush usually got some country assholes and Vegas types.
Bono and Beyonce, Garth Brooks, Mary J. Blige? Not too shabby.
I never watch these things, but last night when they were doing recaps on the news I thought that Bush might have had the alumni from Lawrence Welk. Bush isn't that old...but he sure is that out of touch.
I personally kind of find the way that all our Presidential inaugerations resemble "coronations" kind of unsettling....
Totally agree, Navin.
I've never been into pomp circumstance, and as much as I like Obama (even though I wanted HC), I feel resentful. Our economy is in crisis and it feels like Queen Elizabeth...I'm half expecting horses, carriages and bear fur hats.
We, the taxpayers, are footing the bill for a big portion of this. I don't like it one bit.
Coronation? I'm waiting for Obama to walk out on the reflecting pool and ascend into heaven.
The dow isn't going to 20K on Wednesday and Iraq and Afghanistan are still piss-poor and the climate is fucked and one guy is not going to wave a hope wand and fix it all.
Is he better than Bush? No question. Better than McCain? Without a doubt. But building him up as the second coming will only lead to disappointment when he's actually just a very good president after 8 years of dickery.
I agree with most of your point, but there was a poll out yesterday in the New York Times that suggests that most people realize these problems will take years to fix. I hope the poll findings are accurate and citizens do have reasonable patience and expectations.
And the fact is, we can't get by with merely a "very good president" now. We need a great one, one who will make some amazingly hard choices and have the stones to follow through, and not be afraid to piss off all kinds of people, including large numbers of his own party. Let's hope we get it. If we don't, our country is even closer to being screwed for good, and the resulting cynicism would be terrible and have pretty bad effects on our political system. Things are that bad; though the circumstances are different, 2009 could end up being one of those dark and vital years in the history books (joining 1861, 1933, 1942)
I agree with the "coronation" view, but I think Obama, politically, is doing a very smart thing. He is building up his cult of personality (every major leader has one; it goes with the job) by trying to make large numbers of Americans--not just aging civil-rights warriors, but others--feel invested in his presidency, including feeling like they are are a part of it from the start. That increases what most people call his political capital, which translates into more power before Congress, technocrats, the opposition and citizens. Yes, it is somewhat narcissistic, and smacks too much of monarchy (though it is easy to remember the guy did not inherit power from a parent, as is the case with royalty), but it has political uses. Besides, human nature usually requires excessive ritual at times when power is handed off, especially in times of crises or when one era is perceived to have passed. Fighting that impulse is like fighting the tide.
I know, but I just gorged on "John Adams" (the book followed by the very excellent HBO mini) over the weekend as a bit of an Obama "palette cleansing" if you will, so I'm irascible. The imperial president, ruling by executive orders (even good ones like closing Guantanamo Bay and rescinding DADT) doesn't sit right with me.
Actually have that book on my list, but haven't found the time. My respect for John Adams has grown the more I learn about him, even though he made some massive mistakes. I find his overwhelming sense of fairness to be inspiring.
As per the imperial president, you should read the article in the most recent Atlantic (yes, the one with Obama on the cover) in which a constitutional expert talks about the history of the imperial side of the office and some possible remedies. I can't say I agree with every idea, but it is an amazing article you are certain to like, especially the parts that remind us the Founders were far from perfect.
This one?
http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200901/founders-mistake
It's a fantastic read. I subscribe...even with the Obama cover.
Garrett Epps wrote one of the most impressive books on the supreme court's twisting and turning I've ever read "To An Unknown God". Worth a read.
Yes, that one. Wonderful article. Days later, still bouncing around the ideas in my head. I think we do need to get the new president into office more quickly than we do now. I like some of the other ideas, but am a bit shy about going too far toward a parliamentary model in the USA, as many--not all--countries with that model seem to have more gridlock than we do (I also wonder about the real, long-term effects of such a model on our own system of checks-and-balances). That said, I agree the president has far too much "imperial" power.
Thanks for the Epps recommendation. Haven't read it yet but I will look it up. Honestly, I've been in the mood for a SC book for a few weeks now.
It is a little much at times, yes. And you know who we can thank for that? Bush. Turns out Americans just couldn't stomach another doltish, embarrassing retard leading our country, so we turned to the polar opposite.
And this is where I get frustrated with the contrarian side of computer people and of Chicago in general, with all this talk of "the imperial president" and coronations and such. Personally, I think all the pomp and circumstance is a cultural necessity, something we as a people need to give us some sense of connection to each other and our place in the world. And we are not unique in this need. All cultures in all times always have and always will need their own ceremonies. It's part of being human. It's part of a healthy society.
My question to those who disagree is, how would you prefer tomorrow's events be handled? Obama takes a quiet oath taken in a spare court room, then heads to an HR conference room to watch an orientation video on a VCR?
There's a great scene in "John Adams" where he shows up at the, still very new, White House and finds it a mess, the plaster still wet and furniture strewn about. Not to mention the slaves laboring to build it.
I don't want a dire and dour inaugural. It's the peaceful transition of power in a democracy. That's a damn rare thing on this little blue speck we call home. It's worth celebrating. But during the Roman Triumphs a servant, holding high the golden wreath, would whisper in the imperator's ear "Respica te, hominem te memento" or "Gaze behind you, remember you are only a man"
We're a nation of humans, not kings. All this pomp starts to get unseemly. Feels...royal.
Actually, I don't think I'd mind that at all, Bluefairlane.
I'm surprised that Obama is doing it so big, I thought he would have wanted something a littler tamer.
Much to my parents' consternation, I did not go to either my high school graduation or my college graduation just because I hate that kind of shit.
I don't expect everyone to feel the way I do about this, but I really thought Obama would have went the other way and I'm disappointed in the money being spent and the royal treatment.
It's getting tiresome seeing the star-eyed look in people's eyes whenever Obama comes on the stage. He's a man people....he puts his pants on one leg at a time just like you and I.
"I'm surprised that Obama is doing it so big, I thought he would have wanted something a littler tamer."
After the speech in Berlin, the acceptance speech at Mile High Stadium, the giant victory rally in Grant Park -- you really thought Obama's inauguration would be subdued? At this point I wouldn't be surprised if they've dug up Lincoln's corpse and reanimated it to emcee tomorrow's festivities.
"you really thought Obama's inauguration would be subdued?"
God, you're right. I don't know how I can be so cynical and naive at the same time sometimes.
(your Lincoln comment: LOL)
I don't get into these kinds of events, personally, but I have to say, standing at the foot of the Washington Monument, watching the performances and listening to the speakers, it really was a moving moment of national unity. When Pete Seeger led the crowd in "This Land is Your Land", I turned around to look at the crowd behind us, and, I swear to god, people were holding hands and singing along. I'm not cynical about it - regardless of what you think about the last 16 years in the Washington, it was moving to see everyone together, excited about America. And I think that's a real good thing.
U2...followed with "City Of Blinding Lights" (what, no "Beautiful Day"?).
Obama used "City of Blinding Lights" as his campaign theme song for a number of rallies. Most notably, he walked onstage to it at the DNC when accepting the Democratic nomination. Thus the reason no "Beautiful Day"...
My question to those who disagree is, how would you prefer tomorrow's events be handled? Obama takes a quiet oath taken in a spare court room, then heads to an HR conference room to watch an orientation video on a VCR?
Obviously Blue Fairlane,
How could anybody who thinks things are a bit over the top possibly want anything else than what you describe.....
One has to wonder what we'll eventually end up with if these things keep doubling in cost and spectacle every 4 years....
Perhaps in a stable strong country/economy, this would all go down a bit smoother...
For anyone that was there ... did the sky open up and beams of light shone upon President Obama and did he promise that unicorns and leprechauns would not be discriminated against and that Aquaman and Capt. America would finally get their due and would not be considered the least important and least superhero-like Superfriends of all time?
Captain America is Dead.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/08/books/08capt.html
I saw that ... they're still supposedly making a movie about him. I never really understood what his "power" was other than obnoxious patriotism.
Oh, for crying out loud. I can't stand all these ignorant posts about things you obviously know nothing about.
For your information, Captain America was a sickly man injected with a serum developed by the military to turn him into the ultimate fighting machine. He also has an invincible shield.
Read a book, for God's sake.
His power was unlimited strength without any fatigue-producing poisons getting in the way of kicking ass when needed-where the 'Super-Solider' part comes in. he's also been less patriotic of late, if people like you cared to check out his recent graphic novels; novels that have come in for some criticism from the PNAC bunch and the morons from the Republican Party (
http://www.cracked.com/article_15049_p4.html
The economy is bad, agreed. But how is spending lots of money a bad thing? Aren't all these festivities providing extra work for cab drivers, limo drivers, decorators, waiters, etc.? Isn't it driving more money into restaurants, hotels, bars and airlines? Isn't that what we want?
Points I hadn't considered.
I guess the solution's a system of country-wide lavish parties and trickle down economics.