Embracing What is Right?

The Rev. Joseph Lowery gave his benediction, and afterward, much was made over one particular line he dropped:

"Lord... 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."

This has generated a lot of controversy, little of it deserved. If you want to see a bit of the controversy for yourself, check out the thousands of comments on the benediction's Youtube video. Some white people have gone on the offensive, smearing Lowery's comments as racist; I wouldn't go that far, but I still was a bit disappointed to hear them. On January 20th, we inaugurated a black man as president, a man who reminded us of how his father would not have been served in DC restaurants 60 years ago. And white people certainly helped, voting for Obama more than any other democratic candidate since Carter. Can't we acknowledge that, at least some of the time, white has already embraced what is right?

Of course, some whites continue not to embrace what is right. And I think that the accusation that Lowery was wrong because he "played the race card" rings hollow. These "race card" accusations are a mistake because they stifle necessary dialogue. But generalizing whites as monochromatic oppressors is not the way forward. How about we recognize that white can be all right?

Tough Love, Tough Not To Love

The initial reaction to Obama's speech was that it was exceptionally tough. Gone was the "soaring" rhetoric, the "Yes We Cans" of Nov. 4, reporters lamented. Obama's opening line was, "I stand here today, humbled by the task before us". In other words, no more Mr. Nice Guy. Or so it was reported.

But what the reporters seemed to miss, and what was clear to me standing on the mall, was how brilliantly Obama's speech diverted the sheer energy of the inaugural crowd and worldwide audience into forward motion.

Barack Obama is a Democrat and an expected practitioner of the center-left politics of his party. But his speech also brought to light ideas that had yet to be given voice in the political arena. When Obama said, "The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart — not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good", he indicated what could be a paradigmatic shift in social thinking. He follows with this brilliant line of thought "To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect." It is my sincere hope that someday we will look back to this speech and recognize it as the beginning of an era in which humans abandoned mindless consumption and structured their society around something more meaningful. And I was touched that Obama would include "nonbelievers" in his speech - it was a much needed acknowledgment that one of America's most maligned groups are actually caring individuals and an integral part of our society.

However, as brilliant as the explicit message of Obama's speech was, the implied message was more pointed: there is work to be done, and that includes you. American government used to be above and unaccountable to the people, now it is again by and for the people. If the American people have gained power through the election of a worthy executive, that power is bound to the Spiderman axiom that "with great power comes great responsibility". But this is not a bad thing, it deserves to be celebrated along side everything at the inauguration. We will become a better nation, but only we all work together to make it happen.

Prenauguration

We went to DC today. It was relatively exciting, and there were vendors and tour groups everywhere. News crews had set up on the mall, including an older reporter from Germany. Traffic on the way out has left me with precious little time to sleep. But having seen Washington on the inaugural eve, I'm excited.

UPDATE: Inauguration Road Closures

View Larger Map

The biggest news happens when you don't have access to the internet. Today, the secret service has announced the road closures for inauguration day; it looks suspiciously like the closures from the last inauguration. There is also a lengthy list of vehicle restriction guidelines and bridge closures. Road closures take effect at 3 PM January 19, and last until 7 am, January 21. The secret service has also listed entry points to the parade route, which will open at 7 AM, and cautions: "All attendees, including general public and ticketed guests, are subject to a thorough security screening before entering the Inaugural parade route, the White House reviewing stand and the Inaugural balls. Please allow for additional time for this security screening, as it is expected that lines may be long." Thanks, SS! Way to earn your coily earpieces. Here's the complete list of entry points for the parade route:

- 2nd Street NW and C Street NW
- 3rd Street NW and C Street NW
- Indiana Avenue NW between 6th St NW and 7th St NW
- 7th Street NW and D Street NW
- 10th Street NW and E Street NW
- 12th Street NW and E Street NW
- E Street NW just east of 13th Street NW
- 13th Street NW just North of E Street NW
- 14th Street NW just North of E Street NW
- 12th Street NW between Constitution Avenue. and Pennsylvania Avenue
- 10th Street NW between Constitution Avenue. and Pennsylvania Avenue
- 7th Street NW between Constitution Avenue. and Pennsylvania Avenue
- Constitution Avenue between 6th Street NW and 7th Street NW

But the worst part is they refer to the whole thing as "The Inaugural". Grrrrrrr.

It's Not "The Inaugural"!

Obamathon Man does not consider himself a grammar nazi. But there is one particular linguistic slip-up that really grinds my gears: when people or news articles refer to the inauguration as "the inaugural". I've got news for you: "inaugural" is an adjective. Just like "happy" is an adjective. Would you tell someone you're going to the happy?

OK, mayyybe you could argue that when people say "inaugural" is short-hand for "55th inaugural ceremony". Maybe. But that would be like residents of Pleasant Hill referring to their city as "Pleasant". Do you live in Pleasant? Huh? Where the hell is Pleasant? We can live in descriptions now?

So, please just make the extra effort and call it "the inauguration". Three more letters won't kill you, but leaving them out will kill the English language.

Dressy Situation

Obamathon Man would like to reiterate that he is a man, that is to say a male, and neither interested in nor capable of understanding the anguish, consternation and despair felt by females who inadvertently show up to the a formal event wearing the same outfit. Let's take a moment to appreciate this situation: for women, wearing the same outfit as someone else is an über faux-pas, but for men, we have to wear the same outfit as everyone else. So naturally, it's a difficult thing for guys to understand, but let me just say, I've seen it happen and it's not something you want to see. To put it into terms easier for guys to get, it would be like buying a new 40" 1080p flat screen and finding out that your buddy just got one that's 42 inches. Dammit!

Fortunately for all female attendees, there's a new website which registers what kind of dress everyone is wearing to inaugural balls. The one catch: it's first come first serve. So ladies, as soon as you find that perfect outfit that you've looked for all week, get right online and stake your claim!

THE OBAMATHON GUIDE.™ Part 1: Is It Safe?

After a brief break from The Obamathon Guide: an Inaugural Guide to Washington DC, Obamathon Man is back at it, beginning in earnest his definitive guide to the 2009 inauguration of President-Elect Barack Obama. Yeah, I know there are some other guides, and official guides, but what do the so-called "locals" or "officials" really know? My advice is not to trust fancy websites and stick to the hard-hitting inauguration guide you know and love: The Obamathon Guide.

In Part 1, Obamathon Man turns his attention to inauguration safety. Astute readers of Obamathon Man will recognize the reference to my namesake, Marathon Man, a film in which an evil ex-Nazi posing as a dentist ironically asks the main character, "Is it safe?", before beginning a painful tooth-oriented procedure. While the inauguration promises to have a dearth of ex-Nazis and (hopefully) dentists, many inaugural visitors find themselves asking the same question in light of projected record crowds, "Is it safe?"

First off, ticketed front-row visitors will want to really make sure not to have anything on the prohibited list:

"Firearms and ammunition (either real or simulated, explosives of any kind (including fireworks), knives, blades, or sharp objects (of any length), mace and/or pepper spray, sticks or poles, pocket or hand tools, such as “Leatherman”, packages, backpacks, large bags, duffel bags, suitcases, thermoses, coolers, strollers, umbrellas (pray for sunny weather),laser pointers, signs, posters, animals (other than service animals), alcoholic beverages [damn], other items that may pose a threat to the security of the event as determined by and at the discretion of the security screeners"

For front row visitors, you will also have to pass through a metal detector and be patted down. So if security asks if that's a gun in your pocket or are you just happy to see them, make sure you're happy. Although general mall visitors aren't subject to such stringent requirements, and at this point it doesn't look like there will be checkpoints(subject to change), security will be beefed up, and it would be better not to have suspicious looking items. You don't want to give an excuse for the armed forces, secret service, municipal police, and other arrestocrats to get cuff-happy.

The parade route also has a list of prohibited items, which include "bicycles, backpacks, aerosols (which could include Silly String), coolers, thermal containers and chairs." Also, "Signs or placards can be brought to the parade, but only if they're made of cardboard, poster board or cloth and are not more than 3 feet by 20 feet." Looks like the Obama-Gram program is still on!

For those of you with items on the verboten list who don't have the option of leaving those items in the hotel, car, or your buddy's apartment, there are lockers available at DC's Union Station. In the past, Amtrak has limited its lockers to passengers, though this may change for the inauguration. However, just like everything during the inauguration, lockers are subject to overcrowding and overpricing. For more info, go to the Union Station website or call 202 289 1908.


View Larger Map

Official road closures have been announced, as have vehicle restriction guidelines. The secret service has also listed entry points to the parade route and cautioned: "All attendees, including general public and ticketed guests, are subject to a thorough security screening before entering the Inaugural parade route, the White House reviewing stand and the Inaugural balls. Please allow for additional time for this security screening, as it is expected that lines may be long." Thanks, SS! Way to earn your coily earpieces. Here's the complete list of entry points for the parade route:

- 2nd Street NW and C Street NW
- 3rd Street NW and C Street NW
- Indiana Avenue NW between 6th St NW and 7th St NW
- 7th Street NW and D Street NW
- 10th Street NW and E Street NW
- 12th Street NW and E Street NW
- E Street NW just east of 13th Street NW
- 13th Street NW just North of E Street NW
- 14th Street NW just North of E Street NW
- 12th Street NW between Constitution Avenue. and Pennsylvania Avenue
- 10th Street NW between Constitution Avenue. and Pennsylvania Avenue
- 7th Street NW between Constitution Avenue. and Pennsylvania Avenue
- Constitution Avenue between 6th Street NW and 7th Street NW

To avoid run-ins with the law, avoid carrying large or suspicious-looking objects, and avoid doing things that would draw attention to yourself. If you are stopped by law enforcement, remain calm and do not provoke hostilities. You have nothing to gain and everything to lose. If you are arrested, know your rights, and don't say anything until you have a lawyer present. The Washington based group Flex Your Rights has a good list of resources for dealing with law enforcement, including DC-specific advice.

Since the inauguration is going to be a large gathering, the chance of violent crime is going to be relatively low. However, be aware of pickpockets, petty thieves, or grifters. Leave valuables behind if possible, wear pants with button-up pockets or keep your wallet somewhere hard to reach, and keep bags or purses close by. If someone unfamiliar asks for money or asks you strange questions, say no and walk away; it could be a setup.

Most importantly, stay calm and enjoy yourself. With a minimumum of self-preservation, you can enjoy the inauguration. See you in DC.


THE OBAMATHON GUIDE.™
Introduction (history, crowd density)
Part 1: Is It Safe?
Part 2: Crush Hour(Transportation, Getting to DC, Getting to the Mall, the Metro)
Part 3: When Nature Calls (restrooms, sanitation)
Part 4: Phone Frenzy (Cell phones, texting, finding lost friends)
Part 5: Food for Thought (Food, sack lunches, vendors, restaurants)
Part 6: Got Balls? (Inaugural balls, dress codes, bars)

Obama-Gram: Make Your Voice Heard at the Inauguration!

Today is Christmas, and Obamathon Man would like to take this opportunity to thank all my visitors for stopping by. I would also like to announce the launch of a new Obamathon Man feature: Obama-Gram: Make Your Voice Heard!

Have something you want to say at the inauguration? Want your message to be seen personally by Barack Obama at the inauguration? Obamathon Man is now accepting any and all messages from his visitors in a new comment section on the main page. Comments will be accepted until 6:00 PM, Pacific Standard Time (West Coast Represent!), January 18, 2008. I will painstakingly look over each of your comments, and do the following:

• Print each comment on a giant poster, and personally stake out a position as close to the parade route as is possible. I will fight tooth and nail for a good spot, even if it means losing all my teeth and nails. Your Message will be seen!


• Read through each message on a bullhorn, megaphone, or whatever amplification device is permitted during the inauguration, during the parade.


• Print each message on a commemorative leaflet, available free of charge to all spectators at the inauguration. Your voice will be heard by your fellow countrymen!


• Assemble a video clip displaying each message, and post the video online, accompanied by relevant images and footage as the case may be. The video will not be made available until after the inauguration, but it will still be cool.


• Select politically relevant messages and assemble them into a separate print and video presentation, to be submitted to change.gov as well as directly to the offices of state and federal representatives, and presidential cabinet members.


• Publish a general report on February 20, 2009, one month after the inauguration, chronicling where each of the messages have been heard, the reactions they have goten, and the effects they have brought about.

Note: Profanities will be represented with asterisks: f***, etc. Unnecessarily violent or sexually explicit messages will be edited. Advertising/Spam and redundant messages or identical reposts will be ignored. Messages longer than 500 words will be shortened for the poster, but preserved for all other media. Foreign language messages will be reprinted in their original form and accompanied by an auto translation into English. Messages will be accepted from the comments section in this post, and a specifically designated comments section on the main page

So here's your chance: be a part of this historic inauguration! Send your message in today, and see the change you create. Obamathon Man salutes you and whatever you have to say!

It's Cold

It's currently snowing outside, and Obamathon Man is readjusting to the bitter cold and high altitude. Yes, it's cold here, but fortunately not as cold as some had surmised. Family members advised me to bundle up like Randy, the plucky younger brother from A Christmas Story who wears so many coats he can no longer move. I replied that I would be okay with just a thick coat or two, having been to places with cold weather before. Dismayed that I wasn't taking their advice, they then cautioned me, "You'll shoot your eye out."

But what about the weather in DC? what if there's an inaugural blizzard? First of all, people with confusing graphs are basically predicting that the weather will be relatively warm. Another official looking site says that the temperature is likely to be 37°F and there is a 1 in 6 chance of precipitation, which is certainly good news. Look for a more official post with tips on how to prepare for the inauguration at a later date. But even if a blizzard hits, it may actually be a blessing in disguise: people who can't find a place to stay can build inaugural igloos.

Merry Christmas, Jerry Brown

The big news today is that Rick Warren was invited to the inauguration, to shed a little holiness on DC and to balance out the marching heathens who will also be in town. Many Obama supporters aren't particularly pleased with Warren officating at the ceremony, present company included. But we must keep in mind that His Holiness Reverend Warren has nothing against gay people. He loves them so much, he gives water and doughnuts to gay marriage supporters. Praise the lard!

In more California-centric news, we are bracing to hear from a less holy but equally controversial figure tomorrow regarding the California Supreme Court's upcoming hearing on the constitutionality of Proposition 8. Jerry Brown, California's Attorney General, will reveal his official position on proposition 8. Although he has opposed the prop before the election, he is duty-bound to argue based on whether or not it is a big enough change to the state constitution to count as a "revision". In Obamathon Man's not-so-humble opinion, he would still be correct in arguing against the proposition, since not doing so would set a precedent for discriminatory constitutional measures. However, Obamathon Man is not exactly a great legal scholar since he plays by his own rules.

Of course, this is a sensitive issue for both sides - no, not those sides. What I find most interesting about the aftermath of prop 8 is the ensuing war for the sympathy of the public. The anti-gay marriage side's primary tactic is to make themselves seem even more discriminated against than the pro marriage side, both during and after the campaign. While I may not agree with their methods, I deeply respect their desire to do good. However, the reason why dealing with religious discrimination is so very difficult is that the most faithful believe that their faith is never wrong. Thus, whatever can be shown to them as their true religion is no longer subject to earthly reasoning or laws. What this means is, if God's will is discriminatory, the faithful will follow it anyway. Try to stop them, and you are discriminating against religion. You're damned if you do and damned if you don't, as it were.

Religious freedom is one of the cornerstones of our democracy. But just as with freedom of speech, there are limits to freedom of religion. When religious doctrine becomes destructive of the rights of others, it no longer deserves protection from the law, or sympathy from the general public. I really hope the righteous, like those of Warren's flock, will allow gays the dignity to choose their own courses of action. Other peoples' actions will have no effect on whether or not you get salvation. That's between you and God. And God, if you're reading this blog, I hope you can coax Jerry Brown into seeing Prop 8 for what it is, a revision of the California constitution. Oh, and Merry Christmas to everyone, even Rick Warren.

Too Much Lincoln?

Barack Obama, former U.S. senator from the Land of Lincoln. Appoints his cabinet on the axiom that it should be a "Team of Rivals", as Lincoln's cabinet has been described. Chooses as his inauguration theme "A New Birth of Freedom", a line from Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. Plans to ride to the inauguration by train, entering Washington the same way as Lincoln. I really hope he's not also going to leave Washington the same way as Lincoln.

To be fair, Lincoln is probably one of the better role models anyone could pick. Emulating Lincoln is a politically savvy move; since he is a figure revered by both Democrats and Republicans, it is a subtle hint of bipartisanship. Since Lincoln is best remembered as a capable leader during a time of crisis, Obama's Lincolnizing may cement his own appearance of being up to the task of handling the presidency in hard times. And of course, Lincoln was the president who gave the executive order which freed African-American slaves in this country, arguably the single greatest thing any American president has done for the Black community. Obama happens to be the first Black president of the U.S.

But let's not forget that Lincoln was president 150 years ago, and times have changed a bit. Lincoln's challenge was bringing together a bitterly divided union and win a war that could not have been avoided, Obama's will be to restore a battered economy and end a war that should have been avoided. When Lincoln held office, the U.S. was not a superpower whose every action had effects around the world. In Lincoln's time, nuclear weapons didn't exist, and terrorism meant an anarchist with a derringer. And unlike Obama, Lincoln didn't carry a blackberry.

It's true that good leadership is timeless. But how much Lincoln is too much? It would be great if Obama was the next Lincoln, but it would be even better if he was remembered as the first of his kind. So, Mr. President-Elect, let's try and tone down the open references to Lincoln. Don't let the Obama Express make any whistle stops in Gettysburg, don't name your new pooch Abe, and for god's sake don't buy your daughters Lincoln Logs this Christmas.