I’ll be honest: by the time dawn broke this morning, I was growing weary of the mania surrounding this inauguration. The histrionics of newscasters everywhere, whose pledge to provide “full coverage of this historic event” has led to the discussion of absolutely nothing else for what seems like four weeks, has made for a one-note news cycle punctuated by occasional, alarming twangs of self-absorption.
As I drove to work this morning, I listened to a news anchor on NPR speaking via satellite to a colleague stationed in Beirut.
“So, are people in Beirut very excited about today’s inauguration of President-Elect Obama?” the newscaster asked.
“Well, of course, some people are excited,” said the correspondent.
“They must be!” said the anchor. “It’s a very exciting moment!”
“Well—“ began the correspondent again, only to be interrupted by the anchor.
“How excited are they?”
“Well, there are several—“
“Are some groups of people more excited than others?”
“Of course there are certain pro-western groups who are excited about the inauguration,” the correspondent said. And then, not quite able to mask the bafflement in her voice, she added, “But as I’m sure you’ll understand, people in Lebanon and the rest of the Middle East are a bit more preoccupied these days with what’s happening in Gaza.”
In hindsight, I think that this exchange perfectly sums up what’s been bothering me about the rabid, frothing coverage of the Obama Inauguration: that the profound meaning of this historic moment is getting lost in a sea of vapid self-congratulation and media saturation and play-by-play coverage of what Michelle Obama is wearing. I don’t know about you, but I will remember watching today’s swearing-in of our nation’s first black President until the day I die. Witnessing history is enough. Having been part of it is enough. The story I now have to tell my children and grandchildren is enough.
Captured moments like this one – laying bare the heart-stopping impact of this presidency that so many people thought they wouldn’t live to see – are enough.
As I drove to work this morning, I listened to a news anchor on NPR speaking via satellite to a colleague stationed in Beirut.
“So, are people in Beirut very excited about today’s inauguration of President-Elect Obama?” the newscaster asked.
“Well, of course, some people are excited,” said the correspondent.
“They must be!” said the anchor. “It’s a very exciting moment!”
“Well—“ began the correspondent again, only to be interrupted by the anchor.
“How excited are they?”
“Well, there are several—“
“Are some groups of people more excited than others?”
“Of course there are certain pro-western groups who are excited about the inauguration,” the correspondent said. And then, not quite able to mask the bafflement in her voice, she added, “But as I’m sure you’ll understand, people in Lebanon and the rest of the Middle East are a bit more preoccupied these days with what’s happening in Gaza.”
In hindsight, I think that this exchange perfectly sums up what’s been bothering me about the rabid, frothing coverage of the Obama Inauguration: that the profound meaning of this historic moment is getting lost in a sea of vapid self-congratulation and media saturation and play-by-play coverage of what Michelle Obama is wearing. I don’t know about you, but I will remember watching today’s swearing-in of our nation’s first black President until the day I die. Witnessing history is enough. Having been part of it is enough. The story I now have to tell my children and grandchildren is enough.
Captured moments like this one – laying bare the heart-stopping impact of this presidency that so many people thought they wouldn’t live to see – are enough.
image credit: AP
Which is to say, I don’t need the enthusiasm of the media (or the people of Beirut) to validate the immeasurable pride that I feel to be a citizen of this country today.
Today is awesome all by itself.
5 comments:
what a wonderful post!
So true.
Amen.
:)
I agree completely. That picture made me tear up!
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