Saturday, January 10, 2009
Apart of History, or The Day I Didn't Go To The Inauguration
So I was invited to go to the inauguration, or, more accurately, to go to Washington D.C. and be in the proximity of the inauguration. A teacher at my school, in a prescient move, made hotel reservations last January right near the action. He also got tickets--not enough to go around for me or the teacher who invited me to go and share the room with them, but she didn't want to stand in the crowd alone. She e-mailed me to invite me, and closed with the line, 'BE A PART OF HISTORY!'
At first, I was flattered and excited. What an opportunity! I asked her some questions about travel plans and cost, and was all ready to say yes, but said I had to think it over for one night.
Then I went online. And read some of the following fun facts about attending the inauguration:
So are you surprised that I wussed out? I feel kind of crappy about it, but recalling my recent experience at the Bowery Ballroom (see 'Cranky McGram Gram' below), I knew I would just hate it, and then still have to watch it on TV.
¶ 11:29 AM 
At first, I was flattered and excited. What an opportunity! I asked her some questions about travel plans and cost, and was all ready to say yes, but said I had to think it over for one night.
Then I went online. And read some of the following fun facts about attending the inauguration:
- Be prepared to walk several miles, possibly in cold, wet weather. Among the items banned by security are umbrellas.
- Plan to stand for five, six, even seven hours.
- You may be about four blocks from the event itself, and you may not have a direct line of sight. But there will be large video screens, so everyone can see and hear what's going on.
- Estimates vary, but at least 1 million people are expected to attend. (The district's new estimate is around 2 million.) There will be 5,000 portable toilets.
- The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC) has issued a warning about "crush-level crowds" and "crush capacity" public transportation during the event.
- The inauguration is an attractive target for international and domestic terrorists, but U.S. intelligence officials have no information about specific threats.
- The major bridges that connect Washington with northern Virginia will be closed to everything but mass transit and pedestrians.
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Don't feel crappy. I went to Bill Clinton's first inaugural and while it was fun and it was neat being a part of something historic, it was also cold. Especially my feet. I forget what time I got to the Capitol but I think there were several hours of standing in a large crowd and I wasn't all that close. (There were no giant video screens either.) The worst thing is, I don't remember one line from Clinton's inaugural address! I thought about going this time but I think I'll watch it from the comfort of my couch! Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I went. But if you have any doubt about how comfortable you'll be, you made the right decision.
My parents were at the March on Washington and my mom missed the Dream speech because she was in a port-o-potty.
I say watch it on TV. The revolution will be televised you know.
I say watch it on TV. The revolution will be televised you know.
Think of it like I always tell the in-laws when they ask why we don't go to NYC for the Thanksgiving Parade or New Year's Eve: you get a better view and enjoy it a lot more watching it on TV.
Thank you my sisters! It's good to be comforted that you made the right decision. I am hoping my colleagues have a great time, but also secretly hoping they have (mild) horror stories too, to justify my decision.
I did read your post about Obama and what he can do with himself... and cannot help agreeing with you. The bloom is off the rose, for sure, though the very absence of Bush does warm my heart.
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