I’m a native Washingtonian, and to see the people from the Capitol steps spread out all the way down to the National Mall to the Washington Monument, to the Lincoln Memorial to the Tidal Basin, to see how thickly packed those people were was absolutely amazing. That people were this invested that they would brave a cold winter’s day in D.C. to attend, that spoke volumes about the character of Barack Obama and the people’s confidence in him. That’s more than any speech could have done.
In the speech itself, I was struck by how President Obama didn’t shy away from the challenges we face and how difficult the times are ahead. But in that great challenge that we face as a country, he found a way to be hopeful and optimistic about where we are and the opportunity that we have before us as a nation.
One of the most moving parts was his closing, talking about Washinton on the banks of the Delaware River, and how he incorporated that challlenge for the rest of us, to go out into the freezing river and make a difference and reclaim our country.
Terrance Carroll is the first African-American speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives.
