It's funny how sometimes you can get so locked into thinking you know what will be the climax, the crescendo, of an adventure. For example our trip to DC… no brainer right… "Witnessing firsthand, Barack H. Obama, being sworn in as the first African American US President."
Pre-Inauguration
Guillermo had to head out early due to ticketing and Jo met up with him the Monday prior to inauguration day. G made the most of his time at a Latino organizers conference that led to networking with some dedicated folks. Some good leads on meaningful work, of which we have decided to focus his search in the Pacific NW. He got a taste of DC and would love to work for the administration or with people on the Hill, if it would afford him the flexibility of being present in the Pacific NW the majority of his time (i.e. cross your fingers, or better yet if you know someone, who knows someone, send a shout out). He got to party with his fellow organizers and was reunited with some hardcore volunteers from the campaign. Good reunion.
After a few meetings on Sunday, Guillermo happened to stumble into a crowd of thousands at the Lincoln Memorial, where the energy for Tuesday's event was well and strong. An eclectic mix of Bono, Shakira, Ethridge, Common, Garth Brooks, and many others, serenaded the crowd. It was, cheesy, heartfelt, joyful and very emotional. Every time I have ever stepped foot onto those winter grounds, I have always been angry, bitter disappointed and in fervent protest. (e.g. supreme court decisions, Bush administration the war in Iraq.) For once I was in a crowd of diversity, all ages, all walks of life, and we were filled to the brim with joy. I felt proud in the possibility of progress. We knew why we where there, the message was one of service and the American spirit, but all of us in that crowd were proud of what was accomplished. For once in a long time, the masses gathered in front of Lincoln were celebrating victory, change and progress. Strangers would smile and unabashedly their eyes would well up with tears. They would pat you on the back or hug each other. And they all sang with Mr. Seager, "This land is my land, this land is your land…" and we all meant it.
That spirit of service continued on Monday. G got a chance to volunteer at RFK Stadium where, for the MLK National Service Day, many of the ex Field Organizers of the campaign, helped funnel in a day long steady stream of 9,000 people, who assembled 100,000 care packages for soldiers over seas.
Inauguration Day
As for the crescendo… So last Tuesday, Inauguration day, we got out of bed at 6:15 am and were out the door by 6:45 am. We were staying only three blocks from the National Mall (sweet!!) and didn't need to face the bus or Metro traffic, so we thought we were right on time. We walked out the front door of our building just before 7 and already there were streams of people... but we were the lucky ones with tickets! Right!? It was like a sunny (but freezing) Carnival, Easter Sunday and a rock concert all rolled into one. The streets were packed but excited with this quiet anticipatory energy. We were going to witness history. In fact many of the vendors knew it and were ready to sell you the mug, t-shirt, calendar, sponge glove or pin that said so.
We asked for some direction and got pointed down one street. "Go to the end of that block" and it was blocked… ok, asked someone else, walk for 45 minutes, barricaded, ask someone else... this went on for about 2.5 hours. The whole area was getting more and more crowded and we could not get where we needed to go... see we were on the South side of the Mall and the security checkpoint for the infamous purple color tickets we had... were on the north side. And EVERY street was closed due to the Pennsylvania Ave parade route being shut down for over twenty blocks. No one knew what was going on, and the most common answer was "I don't care which way you go, but you can't stay here." It took police offers from three different counties, soldiers from at least 2 branches of the armed forces and countless Presidential Inaugural Committee Volunteers from every state in the union to successfully misdirect us and bring our morale down.
Finally after 3 hours, we found where we were supposed to be thanks to US Army Private Jones (its funny how someone can seem to know what they are talking about when they say it with confidence and in uniform)... So off we went , "To the 3rd St. interstate tunnel, that will deviate onto the ramp turnoff to avenue D," huh? Due to sheer accident, we took the wrong side of the tunnel and had to double back, inadvertently cutting a few thousand people (Karmic back cuts… so we thought). People next to us had been standing in this very spot since 6 am. Great, we thought. We didn't lose any time! There were thousands of people behind us! Phew! So we waited, as other cutters where heckled by hundreds in the mob, and around 11 am the line started to move, we got out of the tunnel and toward the gate. The tunnel refugees were ecstatic... oh wait, the gate is closed. What!?
People were angry there was nowhere to go, "Excuse me officer can you give us some direction?" we pleaded through some gates as the two lone guards stared at us blankly. So we backed out and went around, found the place were they were letting one person at a time through security. Rumor had it some non-ticket holders had tried to push through security earlier that day, and they had but one officer at the time to control, one of the three main entrances to the event area. They were not organized to handle it properly. But it was moving, we were inching closer and closer... we heard a couple of our friends had made it in (No doubt we'll get in, we've come so far)... our spirits lifted with cries of humor, "All we are saying is give Purple a chance" or "no Purple no peace". At one point people were starting to gripe and Guillermo yelled out "Our glass is half full only 10 minutes left of the Bush administration!", cheers went out… almost 12, "isn't there like a Constitutional law that says he has to be sworn in by 12:01pm?"… we can make it... a radio gave a newsy report. "Purple gate has appeared to be delayed to potential security breach, talk of terrorist threat" (yeah right! Right?)…. 20 ft to go, "This gate is permanently closed"…
BOOOM!!! We almost hit the deck… the crowd flinched and hushed, and for a second we all followed the trail of smoke, some of us thinking the worst, and it went off again for 20 more times. "Oh… we have a new President…" a bitter sweet, "Thank God." "Damn it! I mean…" It was almost appropriate during confusing times come confusing feelings. But it really sucks being a metaphor sometimes. To quote a fellow purple ticket holder it was a "colossal disappointment", but it was wonderful all at the same time. We have heard different numbers, but about 4,000 of us were stuck outside the gate (not to mention all those still stuck in the tunnel)... waiving our purple tickets. History made, Bush gone! Obama... President... us stuck outside the purple gate. Most people left, but we were there... gratefully, someone had a hand held radio nearby and we leaned in to hear bits and pieces of the speech... Guillermo looked up and saw other little huddles of folks gathered around transistor and WiFi radios. People crying, smiling… a man introduced himself, wanted to know who he was with when history was made… and then we took our frozen, needing to pee, starving selves to get some Chinese food. At least we got a table. Guillermo drank something off the menu with lots of different alcohols called a "Bitter Bastard"… "Papa where were you when President Obama took his first oath as President…", "I was with your Mom, your uncle Eric from New Mexico and 4,000 of our closest friends."
That night, G & I went to the "youth" ball... meaning anyone under the age of 38... an hour outside in a ball gown and heels made us fancy popsicles... we got in, checked our coats, got a drink and oops... the main ballroom was filled to capacity. "No one else will be let in.". So, we watched the kid rock/kanye west show... and the visit from Barack and Michelle from the "lounge." We looked good, so we stayed for a while - swapping stories with other staffers who had the fated purple tickets.... and decided to call it a day.
Post Inauguration
The next day we walked the streets of DC. Talked about the fate of race in America, and the reality of ethnicity in our lives. We paid a familiar visit to Mr. Lincoln and filled our lingering void with Abe's inaugural address to a divided nation. It gets better every time I read it.
That night we attended the Obama Staff Ball... Jo came prepared, wore a warm pair of shoes, carried her heels in a bag and made sure we weren't hungry... BUT THIS WAS A PARTY! Clearly organized by Obama people and not the DC usual, we were inside fast, service excellent, good food, open bar... FINALLY! It was a fabulous night. Arcade Fire, and JayZ both played, Joe and Jill Biden spoke, David Plouffe (Obama's campaign manager) rallied and a very relaxed President Barack and First Lady Michelle chatted with the crowd. No speeches just talking about our common journey. It made up for the purple haze of inauguration day... we could see their faces, hear what they were saying… a recognition of this crowd's role in pushing history along for the past year and half. We were seeking closure and we were complete.
I don't know if you've had the experience of being in a crowd of two million people before... but it is a humbling experience. The sheer mass of humanity. The small children and old ladies standing outside for 7 hours in the freezing cold - it was inspiring. To know that Guillermo (and vicariously, Jo) played some role in making this happen was truly an honor. I don't know that the Virgin of Guadalupe herself could draw a crowd that large and that happy to be alive and witnessing this turn of events.
A new friend from Jo's school that entered Guillermo's life asked him for one thing from DC, "let me know what part of the speech impacted you most", in all honesty the transistor radio, crackled so much and the site and emotion of the circumstances of the moment overwhelmed the disjointed narrative of our new President. In fact Guillermo watched the entire event but only a few days ago. Yet the spirit that crept through the static of the handheld radio that day, permeated the crowds in front of the Lincoln memorial, was seen in the faces of countless volunteers on Dr. Kings Day, shone through words on etched marble and of course dressed the banners of our final celebration - "Renewing America's Promise". It feels like the obstacles are beginning to clear. We can pursue life, liberty and happiness within the American context with out feeling like its propaganda or myth. It's ok to believe that the promise is possible for everyone, that there is still work to be done, and that it has nothing to do with pulling yourself from your own boot straps. What will we make of this promise… what history will we make next? How will we gather our communities in mutual service? The feeling of possibility is palpable, the energy electric. Our new president said it like so when speaking about the project of "remaking America",
"Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions, who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short, for they have forgotten what this country has already done, what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage… And yet at this moment, a moment that will define a generation, it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all. For as much as government can do, and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies."
The future is ours again, as it always was, just not so hazy. Doesn't it feel good again to know that we can continue the work of making progress, instead of standing in the headwinds of abused power? What a week.
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