Friday, January 16, 2009

Off to DC to witness a new beginning


We're headed off Cape Cod early tomorrow morning to drive to Washington for Barack Obama's inauguration. An African-American man will assume the presidency of this country for the first time, and we want to be there to see it.
Dee and I are both 61 years old and we both remember the horrific things this country went through - in the North as well as the South - during the years of the civil rights movement. Black America endured beatings, murders and deprivation of the rights that most non-African Americans took for granted. Parts of this country up to the 1960s were little better than South Africa under apartheid. Committed white activists suffered, too.
We are not a perfect nation yet. But the November election of a young African-American man to the office once held by slaveholders was a huge step, a piece of discernible progress. And we want to see Barack Obama sworn in.
So we'll be on the National Mall west of the Capitol on Tuesday, with our binoculars and warm coats, our friend Julie Doyle and perhaps another three or four million friends.
It will be a great day.

8 comments:

Ron said...

Wow. Wish I could be there. It truly is such a huge historic time for our country. I get goose bumps just thinking about it. Enjoy. Be present.

Congrats on getting in the state show.

Dan Finnegan said...

Very nice pot, Horace. I'm looking forward to seeing you and Dee etc. Sunday. Colder'n a witch's mammary gland here lately. Be prepared!

Hollis Engley said...

Thanks, guys. It's a nice show and I like having a presence in it, even if it's just a single pot.
It was eight above this morning when I headed to the coffee shop. It's near that now. But things are apparently warming up. We'll pack as many warm things as we can get into the car and still fit Julie in there. See you Sunday night, Dan.

Tracey Broome said...

Lucky lucky lucky!! Stay warm. You should stop and get some of those little warmer packets that you put in your pockets. Stick them everywhere. I used to take them snowboarding, they are great! Have fun, I'll look for you on TV

Hollis Engley said...

Thanks, Tracey. We'll need all we can get to keep warm. But I think it will be worth it.

chaetoons said...

How i envy you - attending the inauguration! This is THE historic event of our era! If i lived on the east coast, i'd be there to stand in the crowd with you. But alas, am out in the far west, so will have to make-do with watching the events on TV.
Great news about the acceptance of your pot into the show. From what i can see, it is excellent.
Hugs
Chae

Marcus said...

Awesome -- I can't wait to hear about it. Find me a piece of memorabilia, if you can... wish I could be there with you.

Paul Jessop said...

The excitement is building, you can feel it on this side of the pond.