Inauguration Day
I was going back and forth between C-SPAN and C-SPAN2. The scenes that were being broadcast from the two channels could not have been more different.
On C-SPAN, the scene was inside Statuary Hall where the Inaugural luncheon with President Bush, Vice President Cheney, their families, friends, and a select group of politicians and political bigwigs were in attendance. Everyone was fashionably dressed in designer wear as they dined on quail and drank from crystal goblets.
On C-SPAN2, the scene was outside in the cold of the surrounding Washington walkways. Numerous groups of people protested the President, his administration, and the current policies. Although it looked cold, the huddled masses appeared to be energized by their
commitment to their cause.
Although some of the media felt a need to celebrate the politicians and vilify the protesters, C-SPAN just showed the contrasting scenes as is and without commentary. I didn’t have to ask myself which group I related to or which group of people I would feel more comfortable in being around. Still, both scenes were fine examples of democracy in action, warts and all.
I did make an attempt to listen to Bush as he delivered his inaugural address. After all, like it or not, he is the President of the United States. However, it is so very difficult, almost physically painful to listen to what the man has to say. No matter how eloquently expressed a vision may be or golden the promises may sound, far too many lies have already been told and far too many have paid the price for those lies. It’s difficult to accept any of his rhetoric as truth, and that saddens me.