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Monday, January 19, 2009
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According to an article I read, the festivities will cost approx. $150 million dollars. I'm sure a portion of that comes from celebrity endorsements. However, in light of our current economic crisis, the event should have been scaled back allocating the bulk of the money to help the public/economy.
I read a similar article (maybe the same one) that said this is the most expensive inaguration in our country's history. And, yes, some of the money is coming from private donors, but a good chunk (for security, crowd control, transportation) is coming right out of the taxpayers' pockets, whether we want it to or not.
It is an historic inauguration (obviously), but I agree with Judy that in this economic climate with all the uncertainty and unemployment so high, the Obama camp should have shown more restraint in their spending. During his campaign, he said he wanted to "spread the weath around", well, like Judy said, maybe he should have started his term by setting that example. Instead of spending excessive amounts on festivities, he could have returned a significant amount back to the people who need it.
All this being said, Obama needs our prayers... he has a difficult road ahead of him. Tracy
I don't know if Obama had a choice as to how much money would be spent today. I heard on TV that an estimated 2 million people have flocked to DC to witness this historic day, compared to only about 150,000 in 2001 when Bush 2 was inaugurated. With so many people drawn to DC, I think they had no other choice than to spend large amounts of money on things like security, crowd control, and transportation. I am not sure how much is being spent on the other festivities of the day.
With that said, I feel a renewed sense of patriotism. I watched the entire inauguration through tears of joy. For the first time I feel as if we are truly a UNITED States of America. We are not black or white, republican or democrat. I too, will be praying for Barrack Obama and his family, he has many trying days ahead. God Bless America!!!!!!
-Jenni
I also watched the entire Inauguration, and while not an Obama supporter, I do wish the best for him as our new President. But I couldn't believe my ears when I heard the closing benediction by Rev. Joseph Lowery:
‘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 in back, when brown can stick around… when yellow will be mellow, when the red man can get ahead, man; and when white will embrace what is right. That all those who do justice and love mercy say Amen. Say Amen’…
What the heck? He looks forward to the day when whites will embrace what is right? What a divisive statement! I was shocked and totally offended. Like a slap in the face. So much for unity. Tracy
I took it as a joke, which is how I think he intended. I got a good laugh from it, and it looked like everyone there did too.
-Jenni
Forget the politics, let's get to the all important-real question: what do you think of her dresses?
I liked the yellow dress, but didn't care for the white.
(Before I take any heat, I know this is not the real issue! Just pushing some buttons!)
- Reb
Dresses:
I was the exact opposite Rebecca (shocking : ) The yellow was a bit too flashy for me but I liked the off the shoulder gown.
Sorry to break up the fashion discussion, but back to Jenni's comment about Lowery's prayer being a joke... the stuff about "yellow being mellow" and "red man can get ahead, man", fine you can look at that as a joke. But when he prays for the day that "white will embrace what is right", that's not a joke, that's a moral judgement. What if Rick Warren prayed the same thing in his Invocation about blacks? Everyone would act like the sky was falling, and they would be correct to do so. I'm just tired of the double standard. If that line was meant to be a joke, it was in bad taste, and it wasn't funny.
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/religion/post/2009/01/61651854/1
I thought this link might be helpful. You should be able to click above and get some of the benediction (or you can cut and paste). I also checked on YouTube and it was there (but I haven't listened to it yet).
Based on the article above, it sounds like it was meant to be "light" -but I'm w/ Tracy in that I think it was wrong place, wrong time, and just plain wrong. In fact, I think it stirs up all the racial tension that I think many were hoping this Presidency would help to quell.
I'm going to feel like my girl Sarah Palin now -- "oh, now say it aint so" I say stop going to the past, let's move forward!
I think my issue is that of all the positive and inspiring things that were said yesterday that we are discussing seven words in the benediction. Perception is reality to the person who perceives it; and we obviously have chosen to read 2 different messages into the events of yesterday. Instead of dwelling on the negative, I am going to focus on the positive. I agree with ChickChatMom, "Let's move forward!"
God Bless America!
As for the fashion, I loved the yellow number, and I think she looks fabulous in everything she puts on, but I wouldn't have chosen the white dress.
-Jenni
Did we digress????
Bah Humbug!
OK Bah Humbug, here's my two cents : )
Dr. Lowery who is 87 & a native of Alabama has probably seen his share of discrimination and oppression. Whether you choose to believe it or not, racism is still prevalent today. Personally, I was expecting a more eloquent benediction but took no offense to his words. The message I walked away with is that no matter what our skin color, we ALL have room for improvement. We'll achieve more for the people of this country if we unite and avoid being divided by race.
"We'll achieve more for the people of this country if we unite and avoid being divided by race."
Exactly!! Which is why Lowery shouldn't have made such a sweeping moral judgement on whites. It was divisive and put a stain on the day for me.
Tracy (also a native of Alabama!)
http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/breitbart/2009/01/21/feelin-the-healin-young-jeezy-jay-z-perform-%e2%80%9cmy-president-is-black%e2%80%9d-remix-on-inauguration-eve/
I don't want to belabor the point - but this clip is disturbing. Please click on the link (or cut and paste) and you can watch for yourself. I think this is what Tracy finds offensive with Rev. Lowery's benediction & once again, why we must remain so vigilant. (Judy, I'm wish ya that @ 84 - Rev. Lowery has probably seen it all (& felt it all) and I'll give him some liberties on this.)
But when Jay-Z does an impromptu "My President is Black" rendition at one of the inagural celebrations that includes kudos to the mother-(*&(*& man who threw two shoes at Bush and mother (*&^*&^ people moving Bush out of the White House ---- I take offense. Where is the hope? Where is the future? Where is the "Yes We Can"? In fact, where is the "we"???
Since Lowery mentioned EVERY race in his benediction, as a white woman, I do not feel "racially " singled out. The more we continue to focus on his prayer...we only perpetuate racial division.
Missed the Jay Z thing, never a fan "he ain't all that" : )
Judy (please don't throw a pomagrant at me!) -- but isn't that the point. Why did race have to come up at all? Doesn't that automatically start w/ the differences, rather than the similarities?
I'm for what we all said earlier -- let's move onward and forward! I thought the policies Obama initiated yesterday were fabulous! He showed himself to be a real leader. Plus, I want to know how he does it. The last inagural ball was at 2:00 a.m. and he was at the White House by 8:30 a.m.!! I would have still be snuggled up in bed!
Judy,
The only race Lowery mentioned in a negative way was the white race. The mention of the other races had absolutely no moral overtones. This is where I have a problem. As a "white" I HAVE "embraced what is right" and I'm tired of being blamed for something I never participated in.
And I disagree with your statement: "The more we continue to focus on his prayer...we only perpetuate racial division." I'm not perpetuating racial division, HE is... by making comments like this in front of a huge international audience. I want racial unity too, which is why I found the line in the prayer so upsetting. Obama should have proof-read the benediction and yanked out any language that could be construed as divisive.
Jay-Zee is class-less; I will pay him no attention.
Rebecca, my sabbatical begins now!
Tracy
I agree wholeheartedly with Judy. I think his statement is only divisive if we let it become that. I am not a racist person, but I am well aware that racism is alive and well (more so in the south). As a white American, I feel as if I have "embraced what is right" but I know personally people who haven't, and I think that Lowery directed his statement at those people. I remain awe struck by the entirety of the day, and I am so excited to see what the "first 100 days" of the Obama administration brings, I agree with Rebecca, the decisions he has made this far show he is a true leader!
As for Jay-Z, I'm not even going to acknowledge him or anything he had to say........
-Jenni (Native of South Carolina!!)
My final thought...
Would we be having this spirited debate if the "uniting message" remained the same but Hillary Clinton was taking oath? What if Nancy Pelosi gave the benediction and said "when men do what's right"??? Still an "ism".
p.s. Tracy
I will agree w/this the Obama camp would have benefitted from "previewing" inagural guests' speeches, prayers etc. Not to forget attire...what was up w/Aretha's hat : )
Well, this may or may not add a little fuel to the fire, but have we put aside the fact that Barak Obama's mother was white? In fact, I have been told that if we want to really get nit-picky, Obama is NOT our first "African-American" president. He is, in fact, biracial, as his mother was white, and his father was actually an Arab exchange student with some African ancestry,who lived in Africa for a time. So, really, since Obama's mother was fully caucasian, and his father was of mixed race, Barak Obama could technically be considered to be that which makes up his predominant race - gasp - white! (In fact, there has been some speculation that this could be the reason that his birth records have been made unavailable.)
This little tidbit has made for some really interesting discussions about what makes a person "black" or "African"...looking at our new president's appearance, I doubt that anyone would descibe him as caucasian, so he certainly has lived his life and campaigned with all of the pluses and minuses of being "black". If his father's family lived in Africa, is that enough to make them "African"? (I live in America, and I call myself "American"...)
As far as the Reverend's questionable choice of benediction,and all of the commentary that it inspired, I'd like to start a contest for the best rewording of the line about "when white will embrace what's right" - the winner must rhyme with "white" and be p.c.!
Oh, and I thought Malia and Sasha had the best outfits, hands down.
seachelle
Great point Seachelle!!!!!!!
Here is my rendition of what the Reverend should have said at the end of his benediction, (purely for a giggle, ladies)
And Whites won't be burned in the bright blinding sunlight while they are flying a kite to its maximum height or wear clothing that is too tight because that hurts my sight. This is my plight, and I will fight for it every day and night with all of my might!
LOL
-Jenni
Oh, Jenni, You are good!
And when our whites will be bright and so outtasite that we will all be feelin' alright, then rhymimg with "ight" won't still be our plight on this, that, or any other night!
(Dr. Seuss has nothing on us!)
XO, Seachelle
How about...
When all of mankind does what's right, there will no longer be a need to fight and all of our plight shall disappear into the night!!!
Judy
fab! (until someone takes an issue with "mankind", and demands a rewrite to "humankind"!)
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