Hey Josh

I was thrilled to watch history unfold as President Obama was sworn into office, myself along with others watched on cnn.com with their connection with facebook. Yes, I agree that Miss Franklin’s hat was quite amazing, with that large bow. And yes I enjoyed Rev. Lowery making everyone laugh in the benediction.

Some early reports from facebook says that their combined efforts with cnn has yielded.

“Over 1 mil status updates 400 per minute during the inauguration
8500 updates per minute Over 1 million people watched and used the CNN updates”

We need to get Hey josh on there haha.

And according to facebook this was a record breaking event for most users to have this sort of interaction online during an event of this caliber.

Josh Shipp for President 2020, In your face, In the White House!

I’ll provide my response in easy to follow numerical format for those that can only function by seeing a list.

1. Loved seeing the masses of young people in Washington today. Awesome.

2. Our smooth and peaceful transition of power is amazing. Like no other.

3. Love the gracefulness of Mrs. Bush and respect George Bush for his love for America and for making the transition for Obama a smooth one.

4. Felt like Obama’s speech was lacking substance. Much like most of his other speeches.

5. Felt like Obama was lowering expectations, especially after running a campaign that promoted himself as the savior of the world. I expect more dissapointment from him like this.

6. Hated the poet. That poem was crap and didn’t make much sense.

7. Lowery’s prayer at the end was full of stereotypes and didn’t do much for the cause of removing racism from politics.

8. Obama’s fumble through the oath was amusing.

9. I will begin saving my money to purchase an armored Cadillac similar to the president’s. That thing is super tight.

“To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.”

BEYOND BRILLIANT!

I personally like that he took office today. I think that he will make great changes in the world. I also like how many people showed up to witness him being sworn in along with his V.P., I think it’s a great difference in president history. I really like his thoughts on America, too. I like the fact that Mr. and Mrs. Bush were so loving and caring about Obama taking Bush’s place in the Oval Office. I felt that he touched many with his speech during the inauguration today, but I do think that many were crying because he is the first african-american to take office, I love that. I think it’s great to have that change. I think that Obama could change people’s thoughts about hating him, some people don’t like him because their parents do, I think he could change that. I think that Obama taking office will help with the racism problems we have in America today. But I do have to admit, seeing him on live TV during school today, and seeing him mess up during the oath was kind of funny! But I still like him.
OBAMA!
WHOO!

Today has been truly historic. President Obama and I differ in many, many ways but I believe that he is a man who loves his family and America and I can respect that.

One line stuck out at me more than anything else. You can make of it what you will.

“The question is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works”

I will always remember my third grade history class when my teacher told us that she believed that she would not see the day when a woman, or a person of color became President of the United States.
Little did I know at the time, the very first election that I voted in, I helped her, and many other American’s, witness something they never though would happen in their lifetime.
I am 20 years old. I cried today. I cried… because electing a man of mixed race is a monumental leap for this country…because I felt I helped…because for the first time that I can remember I am truly proud to live in this country and I am excited for the future.

To those of you who are pessimistic (hector, sorry to call you out) what happened yesterday was a miracle, not that President Obama is black, but that a new power and a new leader took office peacefully and without conflict or violence. There are many parts of the world in which people die everyday fighting for power or freedom. Obama represents a change, but for this change to occur, our nation has to meet him and his advisors with respect and cooperation. Everyone doesn’t have to agree with everything, more and better thugs actually happen when there is some dissidence, but we do need to show our respect to our new leader or else no change can ever happen. I agree that the inaugural address did not recite specific solutions to our problems, but I don’t think thy was really the time to talk about those things, that will come starting today. And FYI, it was actually Chief Justice Roberts who mispoke during the oath, not President Obama

I really loved the rev’s benediction. pretty funny stuff there.
But what was really amazing to me was the fact that THAT many people came together PEACEFULLy and nothing happened. We can truly see that people are finally coming together for something bigger than themselves.

The day has finally come… the day that a patriotic, philanthropic man with intelligence and wisdom has taken office. I am very agitated with all of the talk that Obama is some sort of terrorist muslim, it makes me sick. So what if he is a muslim (Which he really isn’t)? Just because he is a black man with a foreign sounding name does not make him any different from any of us as long as he a commitment to making our country a better place, which he does. Although I disagree with nearly everything he ever did, George Bush was respectful and spoke with humility. It was a historic day, a day that truly makes me glad to be an American.

1. Props to Obama, not a big fan, but I hope he does well.
2. Thank you to those that refer to him as a mixed race President, he is not African-American, so people need to stop saying that
3. I think all the talk about change needs to stop being a way of glorifying Obama. No matter who won the presidency change was coming, change is something that’s inevitable, on a daily basis, things change. The end.

Good Luck to Obama, I’ll be looking forward to 2020.

I’m not gonna lie. I love politics. I love when it works, when it doesn’t, when it makes my heart pitter patter a little and yes, even when it gives Colbert, Stewart, Leno, and Letterman all something to talk about.

But I’ll also be honest and say that I have not watched an inauguration since seeing Clinton be sworn in in 1994. I was five, and my parents both worked in Washington so I got to go. All I remember is seeing his hand sticking out of the limo as he drove by in the parade (which wasn’t that exciting at the time) and seeing Lamb Chop and Sherry Lewis in the parade (which was VERY exciting at the time. And still is. Lamb Chop is pretty much a big deal).

Anyways, I woke up Tuesday morning realizing the importance of the day and immediately turned on my TV. I quickly decided that hearing the first African-American speak was slightly more important than a Fundamentals of Entomology lecture and decided to stay in. And even though in my apartment in West Lafayette, IN I was 658 miles away from the Capitol, I felt a part of it all. I got choked up hearing Matt Lauer talk about the last time he had seen that many flags was the day after the September 11th attacks as they panned this IMMENSE crowd. It was so overwhelming to see it, I couldn’t imagine what that would’ve felt like to be there.

I don’t know what’s ahead for this new president or our country. I don’t know if America picked the best candidate or not. I don’t know. We don’t know. But that’s the best part about it…we had a chance to voice our opinion. To choose our leader. And now it’s up to all of us to help this country succeed. You don’t have to like Obama’s politics but respect his accomplishments.

So I’m not a huge Obama fan, but I can deal with him because he’s my president. What I don’t like is all the media portrayal of him as amazing because he’s our first black president. Like him or don’t, but think of him as a human being and more than just a black man. I feel like it’s reverse racism towards non-blacks. If I say I don’t like Obama’s ideals, I get told I’m racist, and I felt that the Reverend Lowry’s comment about “white embracing what’s right” is a diss. What do you want me to do? I’m white, and I couldn’t care less what color Obama’s skin is, and I think it’s wrong for any of us to care what color he is. I don’t know what “right” I’m supposed to embrace. Please let me know if you readers have any suggestions. I personally feel that I’m doing all I can to fight racism. I research the way he votes and believes, and what his plans for America are. I don’t look at his skin and think he’s amazing for being born black, I look at him like I would anyone else.

I was so happy to be able to listen to a little of his speech. I have faith and hope that he will be able to turn our nation around, from building himself up through the years he is truly one man that I can trust in the White House. I am happy to hear that he considers us a Team, a nation that together everyone will achieve more.

Firstly, I would like to point out that I know the person who posted above me! Hi Kiersten!
Secondly, I didn’t get to watch the inauguration, because our teacher hates us. I suppose I’m rather guilty for not making it a point to watch it, even the day after, especially given how monumentally important the moment was, is, and will be for America. It’s a long way for a country to come from discrimination against blacks to being led by one, and in just 50 years? It still amazes me that we’ve come this far. Now, without having watched the inauguration, I suppose I could be bringing up points that the man himself has addressed, but I feel as if I need to offer my opinion on the matter nevertheless. Though I have had it drilled into my skull that Bush is bad, now that I can think more independently and can actually care about what’s going on, I think the man deserves some credit. I know I’m bringing up an old issue, but I feel Bush handled the country as best as he could. Though he didn’t leave the country in complete peace, I’m sure the new President will be able to handle it. I have faith in him, and I trust him as the new leader of my country.

I took so long to write my post that someone else posted before me. So, to avoid confusion, I will correct my first pointless piece of information to be “I know the person who posted above the person who posted above me.” Not that it really matters.

TO: Kiersten Van Wyhe

I agreed with you completely. I think people need to understand what he stands for before they say he’s going to “turn our country around” and not base it on the fact that he is mixed-race ( Notice the term African-American, does not apply). I think it’s great that a man of another race was able to finally hold such a high position in our country, as I said before I’m not a huge fan of his policies, but I hope he does well for himself. However, like or dislike, it should be based on the color of his skin. And as you said, as a white citizen I was a little offended by Lowry’s comment. And I’m worried about our country, NOT BECAUSE for the first time in history a mixed-race man has been elected President, but BECAUSE any person that speaks out against him, isn’t just a “non-supporter”, I’m worried they will be labeled a racist, because of the emphasis on his race.

That being sad. I wasn’t a fan of either McCain nor Obama, but I do think that Obama CAN do some good in our country, but that’s because I have faith in God to make sure that the right leaders are elected to govern our country.

THE WORLD WAS WATCHING! They are hoping for good things. Let’s not let them — our us — down!

Why didn’t all the kids in public school, in this country, get to watch this historic event.

First of all, sorry it’s so long. Josh, I’ll tag you on facebook (this was originally a note)

“It’s not who you are that holds you back it’s who you think you’re not.”

Today was an amazing day and I can’t believe yet that it really happened. I watched on TV and I was amazed, I can’t imagine what being there must have been like. (I don’t, however, wonder what it was like to be on of nearly 2 million that were there) There are 3 days in my life that I will never forget: September 11, 2001, the day Saddam Hussein’s statue fell in Baghdad and today. There is something different about today, and I know I’m not the only one who feels that way. When I voted this year, I was so excited. At 22, it was the first time I got to vote in a major election that would actually matter in a huge way, and even though I had a pretty good idea of what the result was going to be, I still got emotional when Wolf Blitzer announced that “Barack Obama will be the next President of the United States”. I have never felt the pride that I felt that night…until today. This election shows me that we as a nation are ready for change, and, like President Obama said Sunday, “Nothing can stand in the way of millions of voices demanding change”. I only hope that he, and we can live up to the expectations that we have put on him to change everything that the former administration screwed up. We as a generation have showed that we can affect something so big by just one vote, which many didn’t think was possible. They had stories on CNN today about the “older generation” that lived through the Civil Rights Movement telling the “younger generations” about their experiences during that time, so that people my age could better understand what they had gone through to get to this day, I would have liked to have heard those stories. They also said that while people were trying to get to the parade route that strangers were talking, and hugging and even helping carry children because of the distances between the Mall and Pennsylvania Ave. It’s amazing to see this kind of patriotism again, and I hope it lasts longer than it did after 9/11, because as amazing as that was, it didn’t last long enough. We went back to being selfish and mean, and I hope that the hope and need for change fixes that. I believe we need to go back to a time when patriotism was everywhere. We are currently fighting 2 wars, and it seems to me like, unless something big happens in either country, nothing is said. Something needs to be said everyday. Something about the efforts to get PTSD covered by health insurance (it isn’t now), something about the wounded warriors at Walter Reed, something about the families that struggle every day not knowing if they’ll ever see their loved one again, if that knock at the door is going to be an officer, or if that envelope is a Dear John letter. We need to change the views on same-sex marriages. They love each other, and they deserve the same rights as other couples. The state of California should not be able to take that away after it has been passed. I believe today is the start of that change. I believe President Barack Obama is the one to lead that change.
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HAPPY ENDING//Sugarland:.: “Cowboys ride into sunsets/The good guy always gets the girl/Cinderella’s just fit/The glass slipper that changed her world/We all know the stories/We all know the fairy tales/We all get the glory/Of making it for ourselves/Chorus:/From the beginning/We’re all looking for a happy ending/Every dream of winning/Every love we’ve been in/Right from the beginning/We’re looking for a happy ending/We come here with nothing/And take it with us the day we leave/The first and last breath don’t matter/It’s all the ones that are in between/It’s the reason for living/It’s the reason the caged bird sings/It’s why we sit in the movies/All the way to the closing scene/repeat chorus/And for all the dreamers who have come and gone/Who have reached for the stars who have overcome/You’re the hope, you’re the wish, you’re the truth/Baby here’s the proof/Baby’s born in the ghetto/Baby’s born with a silver spoon/One tells his mama, “I’ll have a dream.”/One tells his mama, “I’ll walk the moon.”/repeat chorus twice”

CHANGE//Taylor Swift:.: It’s a sad picture;/The final blow hits you/Somebody else gets what you wanted again,/You know it’s all the same,/Another time and place,/Repeating history and you’re getting sick of it/But I believe in whatever you do,/And I’ll do anything to see it through…/Chorus:/Because these things will change,/Can you feel it now?/These walls that they put up to hold us back/will fall down,/It’s a revolution,/The time will come for us to finally win,/And we’ll sing/Hallelujah/We’ll sing/Hallelujah/Oh/So we’ve been outnumbered,/Threatened and now cornered,/It’s hard to fight when the fight ain’t fair,/We’re getting stronger now,/find things they never found,/They might be bigger,/but we’re faster and never scared./You can walk away say “We don’t need this”/But there’s something in your eyes/says “We can beat this”/Chorus:/Because these things will change,/Can you feel it now?/These walls that they put up to hold us back will fall down,/It’s a revolution,/The time will come for us to finally win,/And we’ll sing/Hallelujah/We’ll sing/Hallelujah/Oh/Tonight we’ll stand,/Get off our knees,/Fight for what we’ve worked for all these years,/and the battle was long,/It’s the fight of our lives,/We will stand up,/Champions tonight/It was the night things changed,/Can you see it now? /These walls that they put up to hold us back…fell down,/It’s a revolution,/Throw your hands up,/’cause we never gave in,/And we’ll sing/Hallelujah/We sang/Hallelujah/Hallelujah/Yeah”

i was not happy at all. my friend wrote this letter to him and i want to post it to show u some of the reasons why!

Mr. President,

America is known for its freedom. Everyone is given the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Since you believe that the death penalty should only be used in extreme cases, doesn’t it say that you support preserving the life of criminals more than unborn children? If you claim to be a christian at all, you would know the passage in Psalm 139:13-14–”For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
Not only does God think unborn children are precious, but he created them, loves them, and he HATES those who take their innocent lives. Proverbs 6:16-19 says, “There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.”
You not only support the death of countless of innocent children, but you insist on making every American fund these heinous acts of murder with our taxes. I am greatly disappointed in your decision to help abort unborn children. You are a survivor of abortion, so how is it fair to support the “decision” to murder babies? The unborn child is precious in the sight of God and it is wrong to take an innocent life.
One day, you will answer to God. Great power takes great responsibility. Please do not abuse your power and lead this nation astray. I will be praying for you.