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Thursday, January 22, 2009

Inauguration Joy Inside My Tears

Posted by Dominic Holden on Thu, Jan 22, 2009 at 10:37 AM

I didn't cry on inauguration day like I did on election night. The pomp infected me with giggles. That stilted poem sent me into guffaws—subject, verb, object; subject, verb, object—and I had to leave the room to avoid contaminating everyone's moment. But I misted up yesterday morning when I saw the newspapers—Barack Obama is the president. And this morning I teared from both eyes—for about 20 minutes—when I saw this photo:

d115/1232648564-vertie_hodge.jpg

She is Vertie Hodge, 74, at an inauguration party in Houston, Texas. The picture is part of this collection, which Anthony linked to earlier.

Comments (6) RSS

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The one that really got me was "Residents of Kibera, one of the poorest quarters in Nairobi gather to watch the inauguration ceremony of US President Barack Obama in Nairobi on January 20, 2009."

I think it was #10. All those people, gathered around a little TV, outdoors, with the American flag flying overhead, at dusk.

That's the one that brought (brings) tears to my eyes. Damn photojournalists.

Posted by tjc on January 22, 2009 at 10:42 AM

I haven't cried at all during the past few days, but I have definitely gotten goosebumps/shivers at several key moments. And, I just didn't want to stop watching the inaugural coverage all day and night. I kept watching those stupid balls because I wanted to hold on to the feeling of being connected to the moment, to the day...

Posted by Julie in Eugene (formerly in Chicago) on January 22, 2009 at 11:00 AM

I cried when Aretha sang "My Country Tis' of Thee". Like a baby.

Posted by Vince on January 22, 2009 at 12:19 PM

I sat at my desk earlier tearing up for a few myself after seeing it as well. Aretha got me too.

Posted by bridgie on January 22, 2009 at 2:12 PM

i broke when i visited whitehouse.gov and read the civil rights agenda. and the agenda for women's issues. and that damn whistlestop tour video. oh obama. you are a certifiable dreamboat.

Posted by shena lee on January 22, 2009 at 2:35 PM

I am an old white man, born in the south. When I saw this picture of Vertie Hodge, I realized the true importance of President Obama's election and inauguration. For her, I am sure, more than a hundred years of pain had finally subsided. Martin Luther King's dream had been realized.

Posted by Oldsigndog on January 24, 2009 at 6:39 PM