It was all very composed, almost restrained, they clapped they hands with sincerity and measure. We were in the lecture hall, the screening was on, as the ceremony proceeded towards its climax the room filled slowly with people, not just from the administration, but also visitors, and a couple of classes of school kids aged about 5 or 6, well behaved.
Most faces were serious, some smiled openly. The faces of black people on the screen (there is but a few in the hall) remind me of the what is political joy, and my mind goes to 1996, in italy, the first victory of the left after 130 years of history of the italian parliament, after more than 50 of republican regime. This transition, for african-americans, as they are called here, is even more dramatic.
I cannot judge Obama's speech, a political speech need to be weighted against the other speeches of the person, and the other speeches in that occasion and I do not have that sort of knowledge. In the Yale News, the university paper they have interviewed three political science professor, they all agree that the speech was a down to earth one, lacking the memorable phrase, that it evoked american values and past, that marked a shift from the past as it did not use the word freedom and democracy when addressing the international scenario.
It was felt undoubtedly as an event, it seems that the stopping of normal business, the large screens put up in public offices, the television screens being set in coffes, all of this is quite extraordinary as they explained to me.
But I do not think that it was the somewhat plain tone that kept the lecture hall so quiet, it was the spectatorial position that everybody unspokenly agreed to keep mixed with that sort of institutional framework that makes people more reserved. Thus they did not raise for the anthem, and few murmured it at low voice on their own, two or three clapped their hands at the passage about terrorism but the others did not follow. Not one hand moved for Bush when Obama thanked him. They only cheered for Aretha Franklin.
And they laughed at the only humorous moment of the ceremony, the one when the reverend -known I think for not being a liberal- jockingly referred to races:
"Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get back, when brown can stick around -- (laughter) -- when yellow will be mellow -- (laughter) -- when the red man can get ahead, man -- (laughter) -- and when white will embrace what is right.
Let all those who do justice and love mercy say amen. "
even Obama, who was very tense, smiled.
Among us we commented that the grandiosity of the ceremony and the gathering reminded us of the kind of celebrations held in the ancien regime. The difference, I add, is that at time the sovereign would distribute money to the populace, and here it is the followers who collect money for the leader.
This morning one colleague told me, "it was so good to wake up and think : Obama is the president"
I cannot judge Obama's speech, a political speech need to be weighted against the other speeches of the person, and the other speeches in that occasion and I do not have that sort of knowledge. In the Yale News, the university paper they have interviewed three political science professor, they all agree that the speech was a down to earth one, lacking the memorable phrase, that it evoked american values and past, that marked a shift from the past as it did not use the word freedom and democracy when addressing the international scenario.
It was felt undoubtedly as an event, it seems that the stopping of normal business, the large screens put up in public offices, the television screens being set in coffes, all of this is quite extraordinary as they explained to me.
But I do not think that it was the somewhat plain tone that kept the lecture hall so quiet, it was the spectatorial position that everybody unspokenly agreed to keep mixed with that sort of institutional framework that makes people more reserved. Thus they did not raise for the anthem, and few murmured it at low voice on their own, two or three clapped their hands at the passage about terrorism but the others did not follow. Not one hand moved for Bush when Obama thanked him. They only cheered for Aretha Franklin.
And they laughed at the only humorous moment of the ceremony, the one when the reverend -known I think for not being a liberal- jockingly referred to races:
"Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get back, when brown can stick around -- (laughter) -- when yellow will be mellow -- (laughter) -- when the red man can get ahead, man -- (laughter) -- and when white will embrace what is right.
Let all those who do justice and love mercy say amen. "
even Obama, who was very tense, smiled.
Among us we commented that the grandiosity of the ceremony and the gathering reminded us of the kind of celebrations held in the ancien regime. The difference, I add, is that at time the sovereign would distribute money to the populace, and here it is the followers who collect money for the leader.
This morning one colleague told me, "it was so good to wake up and think : Obama is the president"
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