npts | 
01 23rd, 2009| 
Photo taken from www.cbcnews.ca
In light of the spectacular inaugural event of our 44th President, Barack Hussein Obama, NPTS faculty and staff were asked to sum up in 3 sentences or less their thoughts and impressions of the inauguration. Thank you to all who participated for sharing your heartfelt thoughts.
Obama gave a magnificent and brutally uncompromising speech. All temptation to moderate campaign promises and goals in the face of crisis was decisively rejected.
Stephen Chester
“Where were you when JFK was shot?” Remembering the moment when the space shuttle Challenger blew up. Where were you during the tragic events of 9/11? When tragedy and crisis serve as the symbols of unity, it often leads to cynicism, (a very common malady for the younger generation). As of January 20, 2009, hope has replaced cynicism.
Soong-Chan Rah*
African-American cadence in both inaugural address and Lowry prayer moves the listener with it, with confidence, with hope evocative of an “Amen,” -so be it.
Richard Carlson
In President Barack Obama whose campaign was driven by the theme of hope, so many Americans saw in his election forgotten dreams coming to fruition. It was a personal reminder to pray for our president. As much as our elected leaders can indeed act as servants of God (Rom. 13:4), no one person can embody hope other than the author of our salvation, Jesus Christ. He will need God’s grace and God’s hand to work for the good of all.
Max Lee
Millions, MILLIONS, all over the world watching transfixed as this nation stood to hear the OATH of office. We know the challenges are great, we know that many are still disappointed that “their man” didn’t “win”; BUT the will of millions is clearly to pull together, to get around this new president, and to help shoulder the burden. We should remember daily that his life and the life of his family is from this day on always under threat. Pray for that concern.
Linda Cannell
The inauguration made me want to dance with joy. The music, the prayers, poetry and speech come together in a message of hope, joy, tolerance and love. Yes, we are facing difficult financial times, but we still have so much for which to be thankful.
Guylla Brown
Two “simple gifts” were highlights: Yo-Yo Ma’s joyful expression as he played so beautifully, and the news from commentators that Obama’s daughters will be making their own beds.
Kris Bruckner
I was moved by the radiant, tear stained faces in the crowd.
Jay Phelan
Where else in the world would the entire service of transfer of power be completed in less than 40 minutes? Most speeches by world leaders are just getting warmed up in that amount of time. I was also struck with how many references were given to the peaceful transfer of power, another feature of our American system for which we can be truly thankful.
Paul De Neui
I thought Lowry’s prayer was moving, intergenerational, hopeful, challenging, demanding and inspiring. I prayed. May we embody this in days ahead. The music and the musicians were beautiful!
Phillis Sheppard
It was so encouraging (and such a nice change) to see President Obama delivering a powerful, energizing speech to this country that is desperately in need of motivation and hope.
Jess Stanley
I was moved by the panoramic views of the sea of people standing, cheering, singing, crying and even saluting in the cold, the overwhelming sense of how much good will there was for this president, and how hopeful people are even when the outward circumstances of many people’s lives are more difficult rather than less so. Our nation is at a ”crossroads” moments, an open moment. Will we live into this sense of good will and possibility with maturity and a new understanding?
Helen Cepero
Today’s inauguration of President Barack H. Obama was one of the most important moments in my life: God has opened the windows of heaven and poured out blessings upon him and his family.
Velda Love
I felt an amazing sense of hope that so many people could come together to support this man from our own city and a sense of excitement that we have a new president who can both inspire and lead.
Mary Chase-Ziolek
In my mind, the singing of “My Country, Tis of Thee” by Aretha Franklin was especially fitting. Denied a concert at Constitutional Hall, in 1939, African-American Marian Anderson sang that patriotic song to open her concert at the Lincoln Memorial. For the first time in a long time, I feel great pride in my country.
Bob Hubbard
I felt astonishment at what we, as a people, can accomplish fueled simply by hope and an overwhelming desire for change. I also thought of the Obama girls, Sasha and Malia, and how my own daughters can now know that there is someone in the White House just like them.
Deidre J. Robinson
“We encounter each other in words, words spiny or smooth, whispered or declaimed; words to consider, reconsider’ (Inaugural poem by Elizabeth Alexander). January 20, 2009 was a good day for words.
Paul Koptak
*To read more of Soong-Chan Rah’s thoughts on the inauguration of President Barack Obama, check out his blog www.xanga.com/scrah
What were your thoughts while watching the inauguration of President Obama?
