Barack Obama inauguration thread

[Ice]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

Well, I have to admit that while I very much appreciate the history of the moment, I find the commercialism of the event rather disgusting. I don't know that you folks have been exposed to it up there, but it's really Elvis-like in its mania.

I'll be glad when it's over because it has become a circus and it shouldn't be.

I have to agree. I can't even watch anymore. Its become a crazy circus similar to the hype surrounding celebrities. I really hope this doesn't go on for four years. I'm not sure how far we've come if we elect the first black president and continure to focus first and foremost on that fact. He's an articulate, intelligent and educated man and deserves to have more attention directed toward those parts of his character.

[Madman]

The new Presidential limos are just amazing - I'd like to see some actual specs on those tanks.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

I'll be watching for sure. I know it may sound silly or overly sentimental but it makes me proud as an American that this moment has come. Obama taking office is bigger than the individual issues that are happening in the country right now and it gives people an opportunity to focus on what can happen as opposed to what has been happening.

No, it's honestly not bigger than the struggles of the average American .

[BlackEleven]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Canada might be the worst when it comes to this. Quebec won't even vote for a Non-Quebec white guy! There's no chance of black, asian, even Greek or Italian ever being PM. Or even women. Kim Campbell won a leadership race and got annihilated in the general election. That set women back 100 years.

I vehemently disagree. Canada has a number of visible minorities and women serving in the House of Commons. And we don't vote for a PM directly in Canada anyway. You really think people would stop voting for a party because it had a visible minority or woman as its leader. I certainly don't. And speaking of the House of Commons, there's a couple of openly gay MPs. You think that would ever happen in the States? That would pretty well make them unelectable down there.

We just don't make a big deal of it here in Canada, which to me is way more tolerant that constantly patting ourselves on our collective backs for being oh so progressive.

[Daradon]

RE: Ice ^^^ I'm sure it'll come back down to earth VERY quickly. Expectations are high and things are going too poorly right now for the good feelings to continue. The honeymoon will be over quickly.

But I can understand the excitement, and I like it. There are many different reasons for it, and many people who have waited a long time for it. Don't begrudge tem their happiness. The nation needs something like this.

[Madman]

Can we call Obama "Halfrican American" to remove any confusion.

[malcolmk14]

The South Park episode about the election is one of the more funny ones I've seen.

Highly recommended for anyone who hasn't seen it yet.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by BlackEleven

We just don't make a big deal of it here in Canada, which to me is way more tolerant that constantly patting ourselves on our collective backs for being oh so progressive.

Agree, good point.

The fact that it is still such a big deal to some shows that the walls are just coming down now.

As far as you other points, I touched on those earlier but look at the republican party in the states. Old white guys. You can look at all parties here (cept maybe the bloc) and find many more visible minorites. Maybe not enough, I'll agree with that, but far more than the states.

Heck, you can find Sihks wearing their turbans in parliment (or at least you could at one point). Imagine seeing that in the states.

I truly believe it's more because a visible minority has not tried to lead a party than because the voters aren't ready for it.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by BlackEleven

I vehemently disagree. Canada has a number of visible minorities and women serving in the House of Commons. And we don't vote for a PM directly in Canada anyway. You really think people would stop voting for a party because it had a visible minority or woman as its leader. I certainly don't. And speaking of the House of Commons, there's a couple of openly gay MPs. You think that would ever happen in the States? That would pretty well make them unelectable down there.

We just don't make a big deal of it here in Canada, which to me is way more tolerant that constantly patting ourselves on our collective backs for being oh so progressive.

Yes I see a gay PM before a visible minority one. The last time the Liberals had a leadership race, Volpe threw his hat into the ring and he was immediately labeled Italian.

I don't see it happening.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Yes I see a gay PM before a visible minority one. The last time the Liberals had a leadership race, Volpe threw his hat into the ring and he was immediately labeled Italian.

I don't see it happening.

Being openly gay is not a visible minority?

I would say that it is. Gays have faced similar persecution as other races. Maybe it's harder to 'round them up' because if your private about it you can hide, but they've faced the same levels of hate throughout history.

[moon]

And so begins 4 years of crap for the US and the world.

The over hyping this loser gets never fails to amaze me.

"historic day" my ass. It is a terrible day.

Enjoy it now while the golden boy still has done nothing at all, because once this moron starts trying to make policies him being black won't be "cool" enough to outweigh his idiocy.

[SportsJunky]

Originally Posted by peter12

No, it's honestly not bigger than the struggles of the average American .

Does his taking office not show that the average American can overcome their struggles and achieve great things?

Do you have to be this guy today? Take the day off and start 'er up again tomorrow.

[Thor]

Originally Posted by Daradon

I do get a little annoyed though when Americans start bragging about it like some on the news have saying, 'this could only happen in America'. Uhmmm, no. Many other nations have had female leaders of state. Places like Canada obviously haven't had a black president because we didn't participate in the slave trade, not because we're more racist or anything like that.

I guess the equivalent might be us having a asian head of state, but that could just as easily be because we haven't had one try to lead a party, not because we're not ready for it.

Exactly, Canadians are leaps and bounds ahead of Americans in regards to tolerance and being ready to elect people of different colours, religions, sex, etc..

They keep saying on the US news as well "This shows the American dream, anyone can truly be elected president." Which is brutally untrue, a Christian/Catholic white or black 'man' can up to this point Don't see any hindu's, muslims or atheists running for president in the next 100 years in the USA lol.

Anyhow its a great day, not so much race but for the hope that Obama has brought to the Americans and really I'm as excited for the departure of Bush

[JohnnyB]

There will be some amazing photographs coming out from today. Lots of patriotic shots of the sort to appear in textbooks for decades to come. I'll certainly be browsing them tomorrow.

[flylock shox]

Originally Posted by JohnnyB

As down as many people seem to be on this event, I think this has got to be taken as a happy day for the world. The end of 8 dark years of Bush, and a the beginning of a president who is actually bringing positive energy and inspiration to people rather than fear.

So what's the over-under on an assassination attempt within the year?

Actually, an assassination attempt is the only thing that makes me thing this is must-see TV. Well, that or the unlikely possibility Obama belches 6 words into his speech.

Otherwise this whole thing is like the presentation of the novelty cheque to your friend who won the lottery a few weeks ago. I already know he's won, and that's the big deal. The ceremony is kind of meh after that.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by moon

And so begins 4 years of crap for the US and the world.

The over hyping this loser gets never fails to amaze me.

"historic day" my ass. It is a terrible day.

Enjoy it now while the golden boy still has done nothing at all, because once this moron starts trying to make policies him being black won't be "cool" enough to outweigh his idiocy.

Did someone forget their Zoloft?

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Daradon

Being openly gay is not a visible minority?

I would say that it is. Gays have faced similar persecution as other races. Maybe it's harder to 'round them up' because if your private about it you can hide, but they've faced the same levels of hate throughout history.

Being able to hide it helps alot!

Gays haven't never seen enslaved, persecuted, interned, or genocide-ed (yes I know that's not a word).

[Bertuzzied]

I'm going to miss my Bush. I sure hope Comedy Central picks him up.

[CaptainCrunch]

I guess I'm meh about the whole thing. To me history to some effect repeats itself, and I equate Obama to John F Kennedy to the point that Obama's election campaign came directly out of the Kennedy playbook. I just don't have a feeling of substance beyond the great speeches that basically promise change.

This president is coming into an outright poisoned environment with the two wars and the tanked economy, and he'd better have more to offer then the promise of change.

Kennedy came in with a lot of hype, and pretty speeches too, and to me as a president he did very little beyond bumbling the Bay of Pigs and bumbling the Cuban Missile crisis.

My gut tells me that this new president is going to make a show of trying to spend his way out of the reccession that we're in, and its going to cripple the U.S. in the long run. My gut tells me that he wants to be the popular president, and not the guy that has to play the role of bad guy to save his country.

He has a long way to go to heal the USA, and a short 4 years to do it.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

Does his taking office not show that the average American can overcome their struggles and achieve great things?

Do you have to be this guy today? Take the day off and start 'er up again tomorrow.

I'm a bit surprised at the level of grouchiness in this thread. This day is no media invention - something very profound is happening here.