Sappy Inaugural Love-In Post!

For relaxing times, make it Santori time.

1.8 million people crammed into 146 acres (3.53 sq ft./person if you divide evenly) of the National Mall. Number of arrests: 0.00. That is one civil herd.

My dad asked me Wednesday night what my impressions and feelings were about being at the Presidential Inauguration of Barack Obama. He asked, "If you were going to write about it, how would you put it?" To answer his question...For me, being in D.C. in the days leading up to the inauguration was to catch a glimpse of our great potential as Americans and as human beings. I can hear some of you grumbling already, and, yes, it is going to be that kind of a post. If you're not up for it, navigate elsewhere. J. Crew.com is having a helluva sale.

The sense I got walking the streets was one of solidarity if not unity. Maybe it was that we were all from out of town and, thus, in a vacation mindset. Even if you're freezing your ass off, taking a trip anywhere, especially to city like our nation's capital, is energizing and tends to put people in a good mood. I'd like to think it was more than that though. It felt like more than that to me. It wasn't just that we were all there from out of town, it was that we had all come from such various places for one common purpose. It felt like it was a purpose more meaningful than just to get away for a few days or to do some sightseeing. The point is that people of all races, faiths, and even nationalities were standing shoulder to shoulder because they shared a common belief in the change represented by this historic election. And nobody was pushing. Literally speaking, it was amazing to me as I am as big of a crowd-phobe as anyone. Five hundred thousand people were crammed onto one short stretch of The National Mall that Sunday for the "We Are One" concert.. We were somewhere near the middle, but if someone wanted to squeeze closer to the front, the crowd let them through. No one complained or griped. A girl no taller than 5' 3" came through carrying six hot chocolates without lids and didn't spill a drop, a testament to her balance as much as the crowd's benevolence, I admit. It was difficult to decipher at times which people had come there together and which were complete strangers who for this moment at least, were not afraid of each other. Looking up at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, it was easy to think that at the same location where Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke of his dream, that dream had finally been realized more than forty years later. Either that or I have grossly underestimated the trans formative power of a Bruce Springsteen concert. When it was over, the crowd dispersed slowly and safely without surging or bumping. Even after presumably getting what they came for, there was no urgent return to self-centric rushing and survival of the fittest.

The camaraderie could be seen everywhere. Sitting among several narrowly aligned restaurant tables, strangers seated next to each other didn't hesitate to strike up conversation. People smashed together in Metro cars joked and laughed and sincerely apologized to those on the station platforms who simply had no space to get on board. People walking down the middle of closed capital streets dropped gloves and hats, perhaps visitors from warmer climates not accustomed to juggling the many layers of warmth, and those behind them picked them up and chased them down. Vendors stood on seemingly every corner selling all things Obama. Exploitative? Sure, but there was also something to be said for people recognizing this moment in our history and feeling that they wanted to take a piece of it with them to wherever they may return. People looked each other in the eye and didn't turn away.

Of course, this was not a phenomenon entirely new to Americans. Throughout our history, we've been able to look past our petty differences and unite behind a common goal for the betterment of all. December 7th, 1941. September 11th, 2001. This time, however, at least in my lifetime, was unique in that the unity was not an answer to attack, but a homily of hope.

On Inauguration Day, we stood in the WWII Memorial, just on the far side of the Washington Monument. People smiled, cheered, and sang. Most powerful, however, was the absolute silence that seized the crowd when now-President Obama took the oath of office and addressed the nation and the world. One-point-eight million people silenced to listen to the words of one. I think one particular passage of President Obama's address aptly represents my experience in Washington, D.C. for the inauguration.

"...we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus, and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself..."