"Now the red man can get ahead, man"

Today at 11am the office of my entire department closed down and everyone went to the auditorium to watch the Obama inauguration. I watched it down in the lobby where something like 100 people stood around in complete silence watching the ceremony. When Obama won the election, I walked down Main street to watch the people screaming in the street. I ducked into a bar to watch his acceptance speech and I remember the people sitting at tables in the packed bar, necks craned up at the screen. Their uplifted chins and the “yes we can” call and response made me misty. People were cheering and clapping and someone bought a shot for everyone in the bar.

People are already criticizing the inaugrial speech as “too long,” “disappointing” and “not as good as some of his campaign speeches.” I have to disagree. His acceptance speech was moving to me in tacit, emotional way-it wasn’t what he was saying as much as it was how people were listening. We all really were united (at least in Ann Arbor) during that speech. Today’s speech was a little more somber, a little more real. He spoke of the enormous obsticles that we have to face and, relatively specifically, of how we wil face them. I thought today’s speech was rousing, which might be why people were disappointed. It’s time to stop chanting “Obama” and “change.” It’s time to get to work. Obama’s speech today didn’t make me misty like I thought it would, it made me inspired to contribute.

Right after the inauguration I sent an email to the Center for the Education of Women, which is an organization that researches labor and education outcomes for women. I’ve asked to volunteer with promoting women in math and science, and hopefully they will have some community outreach I can contribute to. It’s not exactly soup kitchen work, but it’s service, no?