I have never seen hope on so many faces at the same time. I have never seen a huge mass of people vouch for one person, this bad. And I have never seen it happen in the middle of sub-zero temperatures. Or when so many people are getting laid-off.
Americans made history today by bringing their first-ever African-American president into the White House. Wall Street looked cheery, albeit for an hour or so, when people hooted, cheered, clapped and yelled for him. All this while, he walked calmly into the sea of people. All of whom, looked up to him, literally at the podium he stood on. All of whom, hoped he would be their saviour. Some of whom, who hoped he can bring back to them, what they have now been deprived of, for the last few months; a sense of stability, security and peace of mind.
I stood there, joining the millions of other, who applauded everytime he said something inspiring, something hopeful and something special. Like the time he said "We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers" or the time he said "They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please."
This man seems to get it. And this nation seems to have got it, by putting this man to power. Time will tell of course, but there is a part of me, that is ecstatic today, like the rest of America. That makes me think, like the rest of America, that it's not all over yet. That sort of comforts me, in this bitter wintery cold, like the patch of sunlight on a frozen sidewalk; that when the snow has stopped falling and the Arctic freeze retires, when trees have sprung back and leaves sprout out in green, this country may bounce back with the same effervescence and the energy that it once had.
Until then, it's time to hold on to the hope and celebrate good days like this one!
P.S: Today is already a very special day. Obama's inauguration only makes it even more special and uniquely unforgettable.