The Rising

Update, January 20th: Barack Obama became the 44th President this morning.

Here’s the new White House website, FYI.

Here are the YouTube video links to the inaugural address, Part 1, and Part 2.
Editor’s Notes: Bob Woodward and Fareed Zakaria may have more and better editors than my little sister Jeannie, but she has way more enthusiasm and it just seems reasonable to share her reports, even for those of you who may have voted for the other guy. It will become clear to the reader that my dear and intrepid sister is a huge U2 fan (yes, we’ve been to the U2 shrines, in Dublin, together) and is very big on Barack Obama. The reference to Janelle is to my cousin Janelle, who works for the Communications Workers of America during the day but, in her free time, was part of the amazing Obama Machine in Virginia this year. So, there you go. Many of the photos are courtesy of an old and dear friend, Bill Mitchell, who is well known throughout the Northwest and the country for his work in organizing and helping to fund good causes. Many thanks to Jean and to Bill. –Tim Connor.

Tuesday, January 20th, p.m.

I am back in Virginia thoroughly exhausted but exhilarated. I finally saw our new President today, within 20 feet, as he looked my way through the limo window. He was beaming at us with that wonderful smile that could melt the most cynical of souls! He waved as I jumped up and down on my perch beside Pennsylvania Ave and 7th St.

I had an unobstructed elevated view on a granite ledge that was a landscape planter of some sort, so I had a prime spot to catch a glance of him. Yep, people were hanging out of the trees just like in those old JFK reels. (The picture is of the African teens that were singing before the WE ARE ONE concert at the Lincoln Memorial. A highlight of my trip.)

I am sure you all have caught the incredible images that flowed out to the world today from D.C., and I am more than honored to say I was here. Let’s just say events as monumental as this somehow cannot be conveyed in a few sentences, you just have to live it. Be there.Feel the numbing cold on your body, connect with total strangers and feel like family… or sardines. Or both. It’s all perception right?

The bright blue skies and the poetry of the moment somehow helped to numb the stinging pain of the wind blowing that was blowing in my face making my nose freeze. There were very painful moments in the cold and I thought I almost lost Janelle once when she almost collapsed from the freezing wind but I wouldn’t let her. It was all worth it!

Overall this was a great experience for the camaraderie. But the logistics of this thing, as you can imagine, were just beyond the control of the District. As you saw, the volume of people was staggering. Over 2 million people trying to squeeze through security checkpoints complete with bag searches and pat downs. It was not a good way to start the day. They were clearly overwhelmed by 7 a.m.. They could not handle the capacity and unfortunately we were part of the crowd, thousands of us, some with tickets, that never made it to the mall area. It was impossible.

Camping out just 4 blocks away still did not prepare us to tackle the time window needed to move down the block. Geez. That’s how huge this thing was. When I awoke at 6 a.m. and looked out the office window to the street below me, I swear it looked like a horror movie. Thousands of ants moving in unison together marching through the streets of D.C. It was weird and I knew we were in trouble then time-wise because it was insane even at that hour.

They did not publicize that everyone would be searched. It was implied that only the ticketed areas would be searched, not everyone! Did you see that incredible picture from the Capitol building to the Lincoln Memorial? That is a large amount of real estate and if you have ever been to D.C. you know what I am talking about.

I just watched the tape tonight when I got home and I was struck by the enormity of the scene even after just being there. People let me tell you, that was a freaking ton of humanity. And that wasn’t even EVERYONE. There were hundreds of thousands more..out of view on the side streets. They just announced that this was perhaps the LARGEST event in our nation’s history, never mind inaugurations! And get this, according to MSNBC, NO arrests were made. That’s unbelievable.

This morning in the security line it took us 3 hours to move 20 feet, but once we made it through we knew we would never make it to the mall because there was no time. Plus it was at capacity. It was already 11 a.m. and impossible to get there. So after resigning to that fact we regrouped, cheered ourselves up and decided to stay and tough out the cold to at least try and see the motorcade.

I just saw the montage of the entire day that MSNBC set to music and commentary.
Aretha Franklin just made me cry again.

President Obama’s speech was powerful and determined.

I am all out of adjectives. I just cannot describe this experience any longer and do it justice.

Tuesday, January 20th, early morning:

It’s currently 1:30am January 20, 2009 as I type this. A day for the history books. I can’t believe it’s here.

I am sitting in cousin Janelle’s office located in Judiciary Square downtown DC getting ready to go crash on a sofa down the hall. The place is deserted and all is quiet.
We just got back from the Grassroots Ball somewhere near Dupont Circle at a beautiful church.

Prior to our metro ride to the church we hoofed it down (yes, in my black cocktail dress and cute high heel patent leather boots…ahem) to Clyde’s a restaurant where the Oregon Society inauguration ball that Janelle wanted to check out was held. We stayed there for about an hour and then booked on down to the church where the real party was! We were gettin’ down with the people! How poetic that the Grassroots Ball was held in the basement of a church.

Poetic in two ways. The campaign started literally in church basements, at socials where then Sen. Obama gently listened to the patrons tell him their stories. Listened he did and so much more!

There was a crowd of about 200 of very diverse people and they had several performers for us on stage plus a live band. Lots of great jazz. Then a poet came out ( white guy from Brooklyn New York who was a teacher and looked no older than 15 ) he gave this amazing rap like reading about oppression and rising up. Fantastic. A folk singer and activist who looked like Weird Al, sang a couple of tunes and there was a video presentation/montage of grassroots photos throughout the campaign to the music of BEAUTIFUL DAY by U2. Well of course it was!

Ok, so after all the jazz, and the poetry readings, things started to get rowdy when the dj put on the funk (ie, Rollercoaster, Brick House) and we all just let loose and boogied away the hours. Everybody was dancing with everybody and it felt like a big family. Young, old, black, white, Latino, Asian, Muslim, and there were even a couple of cowboys there in hats. I love it!

Driving home the streets were crazy. There are so many red carpets laid out in front of hotels it looks like the Oscars. We hailed a cab, thankfully with a Nigerian taxi driver who was especially joyous about the big day tomorrow. He just went on and on about the man and all he heard were amen’s coming from the back seat.

It strikes me even more in the wee hours of this glorious morning how this man has touched so many people. He means so much to each of us individually for so many different reasons, but really there is only one reason.
He’s one of us. He made it and he is still humbled by it because IT is us. All of us. I can only stand in awe today as a witness to history. My Nigerian taxi driver will be witnessing true liberation for today is his day of sacred reckoning and divine justice.

Let it rain down on all us!

Amen.

Monday, January 19th: After a smooth flight with beautiful weather over the Cascades and Rockies (gorgeous sunset.. I knew that was a great omen) I am here safe and sound in DC and having the time of my life, even though yesterday I thought I was going to lose a couple of toes to frost bite (gross exaggeration) but still could not believe I was standing at the Lincoln Memorial witnessing history and a dream come true for me.

Listening to U2 sing Pride in the Name of Love on that sacred ground was beyond surreal. Yes, I jumped out of my boots and lifted my arms and hands like a prayer when he sang ” In the NAME OF LOVE” …. Bono got sooooo emotional his voice cracked and you could tell it was surreal for him/them too!! Even EDGE had tears in his eyes and LARRY and ADAM were smiling! !! That never happens!! Then when Bono thanked President Obama for selecting their song City of Blinding lights as the campaign song ( he walked out to the intro at all his rallies for the past 2 yrs)

I couldn’t stop welling up with tears and I was tickled that they got to play both songs! The only artists that were given that privilege!! Then BONO started his glorious impromtu speech-like rendition of MLK’S I Have A DREAM speech … he bellowed out
“LET FREEDOM RING, FROM EVERY CITY, EVERY HAMLET, EVERY TOWN…LET FREEDOM RING” ..then he said… AMERICA IS GETTING READY TO LEAVE THE GROUND”…. gah gah. I was a mess… and then City of Blinding lights started. Tim, it was stellar U2. All heart!!

GARTH BROOKS was awesome too… he sang AMERICAN PIE and then snippets of SHOUT and then the last chorus of his famous anthem… “WE SHALL BE FREE” that was INCREDIBLE… the words.. perfect.

They ended the show with 60′s folk singer Pete Seeger ( he’s amazing!!) and THE BOSS ( who also opened the concert with a choir singing THE RISING.) OMG, incredible. The lyrics just kill me how perfect they are.
Pete, Bruce Springsteen, the choir and everyone came out and sang THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND.. Boy, the lyrics never had more power than yesterday when we could feel the electric energy in the air. Then Beyonce came out and led all the performers on stage and everyone sang AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL. Lots of tears. Lots of tears. Everybody was so happy even the volunteers were super helpful and happy and the National Guard troops stationed around the crowd were too! There is definitely a renewed spirit in this nation, I hope you feel it too! We were all freezing but everybody was THRILLED and THANKFUL to be there.

I was interviewed by the local DC news station here while Janelle and I were standing in line 4 hrs prior to the start of the show. Hopefully they did not put me on tv.

Janelle actually scored tickets to the reserved standing area. That got my hopes up that we would at least be able to see the stage, but alas, that was not the case. They set up these giant bleachers directly in front of the stage just before the reflection pool so anybody standing back there ( I was in the first row against the rail facing the stage on the right hand side of the reflecting pool) we couldn’t see anything but jumbo trons… but still it was the vibe that was special and we made our own fun! For instance I will never forget how cool it was when during the looooooong wait in the cold, a group of African students (didn’t realize they were African until they started singing, I mean native Africans…) They formed this circle in the middle of the crowd and just starting RIFFING, making up stuff and soon they had a song complete with beautiful harmonies…

“I WANT TO SING FOR BARACK OBAMA… WE WANT TO CELEBRATE AS ONE” It was freaking AWESOME!!! They should have been up on the stage!! Then they started dancing a tribal dance in the grass and singing at the same time, then people started jumping in and soon there was a United Nations like conga line around the reflection pool where I was standing!! Unbelievably cool.

Couple of notable things overheard:
“THIS IS BETTER THAN ALL THE CHRISTMAS’ I HAVE EVER HAD ROLLED IN TO ONE.”

” I CAN’T BELIEVE I AM HERE WITNESSING THIS”

“CHECK OUT THE DIVERSITY OF PEOPLE ON THIS PLANE” True that. I was sitting next to a Native American and an African American in my row!!! All of whom were headed to the big event!!

So here’s to uniting this nation in the true sense of the word. I witnessed TRUE unity with those kids yesterday at the Lincoln Memorial….let’s hope it lasts!!

More reports to come…

Tonight we are off from Richmond VA where Janelle lives on the metro to the Grassroots Balls at a local DC church, then back to Janelle’s office to camp out for the night before the big day!! Thank God she works right next to the Capitol!! We are going to be standing on the mall hopefully right under the MSNBC station, so look for us on camera!! Midway between the Capitol dome and the Washington Monument!! Can’t wait!!

I AM SO THANKFUL to be here!!
Pass on the blessings today, this day of NATIONAL SERVICE.

Be inspired and lifted up! (BE THE CHANGE!!)

Love, Jeannie