They said the day will never come, but the day is here! I have counted every second, every minute, every day to this moment. But here I am in my tingly best, still unprepared and still unable to take in fully the fact that I’m a witness to history, a sacred moment that will never be repeated! I have jumped, clapped, danced and sang in seismic euphoria, but the figment is getting real! I have cried the reserves of my joyful tears to emptiness, filled only with the echoes of unbelief. But the day, the day, is here!

And he is here too! He who owns the day is here – with Michelle and the two beauties, reminding us of what family is all about! They said he has no experience, but he worked in the community. He worked in the community because he wanted the experience and now he’s here to show how the world is a community and how you and I are this community – a community that cares for and empowers each other. We are his community and we will be his experience. He is the candle lighted by Providence to take the world on a new curve and we will follow the path he lights and even make it better. I’m not celebrating the man, but what he represents, because what he represents is far bigger than him. What he represents will outlive him and a thousand generations over. I’m not celebrating race; I’m celebrating humanity. I’m celebrating the power of man to rise above primeval instincts and right a historic wrong.

America the Brave took a huge leap in the dark and in that glowing darkness, lighted by the fierce fire of national belief and unquenchable thirst for freedom, equality, progress and collective vision, it’s once again showed leadership to a rudderless world. A country scarred by its notorious history of slavery and segregation refused to be enslaved by it. Rustbelt America conquered its own fears and beckons on us all to do the same! Yes, America took the bull, not only by the horn, but by its whole being, hauling it into the accursed ring to cleanse our blot of bloated prejudice.  America renewed her promise to the world and put her faith in the hands of the grandson of a Kenyan goatherd, tortured by the British for supposedly being a Mau Mau guerilla. Today, in the creeks, the hills, the plains and every human abode, voices shall be heard applauding America’s renewal.

I’m not suicidal, I don’t want to go kicking any bucket this minute; but I would gladly die now that my eyes have seen the glory of God’s mighty will! This is a promise that the voices that cried shall be heard, that those that dream shall have fulfillment, that those that hope will see the sun. This is a promise that whatever piece of earth you occupy, your miracle is on the way. It is a message to all of us who toil on behalf of humanity. Yes, if I die today, I can gladly proclaim to those on the other side that I left the world a better place. Oh, this is not the day for speeches and sermons! This is the day to smile and savour. I am simply grateful to be here to see this beginning of this new day.

Robot  # 1 | 20.01.2009 12:33

...Read the full article.

VOR  # 2 | 20.01.2009 16:11

Kenno!! The day is truly here and I witnessed it! Oh what a day, what a moment! I had tears in my eyes as he spoke. EVERYTHING, I mean everything he said had such deep meaning! Ah what a man! What a day for America and the world, such hope, such audacity and such determination! As I watched the inauguration live, I could imagine the festivities with Martin, Rosa, Malcolm etc. wherever they are. Yes, it is a great day! And Michelle and the kids, you could see the pride on their faces. Michelle looked like the mother hen. Igba Obama a tu America lara o, a tu gbo gbo agbaye lara (during his time, it will be well for Americans and the world) I pray for the day we witness this in Nigeria. A day the entire world will celebrate Nigeria and Nigerians. A day we reach a new dawn. A day we can look back at our activists who also 'had a dream' and say, yes. we have arrived! I pray we are also living witnesses on that day. I wish Sen. Ted Kennedy quick recovery o!

Kenn  # 3 | 20.01.2009 17:25

VOR, You were not alone in feeling how you felt. It’s a great day for our world and our generation. It is my prayer that the thinking ones amongst us sit back and digest what has happened today. We must look deeply at ourselves and believe that we can. I’ve always been an optimist and I will remain one till the end. Greater walls have fallen than those erected everywhere in our nation. We remain on the march! My thoughts and prayers go out to Ted Kennedy and the entire Kennedy family. The Lion in Winter has handed over the baton and is probably ready to go tell his brothers that the job is done. But let God's will be done. He’s lived a great and fulfilled life. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/obama_inauguration/7840646.stm http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=4226712&cl=11626339&src=news

VOR  # 4 | 20.01.2009 18:10

Kenn, so far, I have witnessed Mandela released from prison and sworn in as the first black South African president and now Obama sworn in as the first African-American president. Europe is next!! :wink:

Uncle Sam  # 5 | 20.01.2009 18:21

Mostly my sentiments too. Kenn, what is the sentiment in UK. What is the summary of the press writings in UK? Are they as forgiving to Obama like the American and African press?

emj  # 6 | 20.01.2009 18:29

And he is here too! He who owns the day is here – with Michelle and the two beauties, reminding us of what family is all about! They said he has no experience, but he worked in the community. He worked in the community because he wanted the experience and now he’s here to show how the world is a community and how you and I are this community – a community that cares for and empowers each other. We are his community and we will be his experience. He is the candle lighted by Providence to take the world on a new curve and we will follow the path he lights and even make it better. I’m not celebrating the man, but what he represents, because what he represents is far bigger than him. What he represents will outlive him and a thousand generations over. I’m not celebrating race; I’m celebrating humanity. I’m celebrating the power of man to rise above primeval instincts and right a historic wrong. Eherm, his Character not his Color was what i told my colleagues who watched it live with me and were congratulating us(being a person of color). I could hardly sleep, and the little sleep i had was dreaming of the Inauguration..got to work and everyone was trying to be Politically Correct with me..took Apple Caramel Pie along for everyone to have with their coffee/tea.... We joined Americans live to Celebrate...and pray and hope that this event will be a sort of awakening for even Black Nova Scotians and Africans in Africa and Nigerians in general...what we witnessed today is the fruition of several years of thirsting and working for change inspite of all obstacles. We shall yet witness the real emancipation of our people in our life time.:p PS>>>>>Olopa ooooo....4Paras pere...hmmm,:lol: Can someone please help check his Temperature....is this our own Kenn1?:)

Kenn  # 7 | 20.01.2009 19:18

=Uncle Sam;315642>Mostly my sentiments too. Kenn, what is the sentiment in UK. What is the summary of the press writings in UK? Are they as forgiving to Obama like the American and African press? Uncle Sam, The sentiments in the UK are generally the same as elsewhere in the world. Obviously, there’s the usual British standard dose of caution. For instance, you get people like Patrick O’Flynn of the Daily Express saying there will be a downside in the sense of Obama “falling short of the stratospheric expectations of many supporters”, which would naturally lead to disillusionment. He also seems to think that Obama will have to be less vague now that he’s President. You also get eternal cynics like Melanie Phillips of the Daily Mail who cannot understand what the whole hoopla is about. She actually thinks that in the face of the challenges we face today, people are being led to believe through this Obamania “a cartoon version of why we’re in such a state”. Her partner in ‘crime’, Mary Ellen Synon is going with the same opinion, principally attacking Obama’s idea of bringing government too much into the private sector. Other conservative writers here and there are trying their best to be party poopers, but the general and indeed overwhelming view is one of great goodwill and expectations.

Uncle Sam  # 8 | 20.01.2009 22:30

=Kenn1;315664>Uncle Sam, The sentiments in the UK are generally the same as elsewhere in the world. Obviously, there’s the usual British standard dose of caution. For instance, you get people like Patrick O’Flynn of the Daily Express saying there will be a downside in the sense of Obama “falling short of the stratospheric expectations of many supporters”, which would naturally lead to disillusionment. He also seems to think that Obama will have to be less vague now that he’s President. You also get eternal cynics like Melanie Phillips of the Daily Mail who cannot understand what the whole hoopla is about. She actually thinks that in the face of the challenges we face today, people are being led to believe through this Obamania “a cartoon version of why we’re in such a state”. Her partner in ‘crime’, Mary Ellen Synon is going with the same opinion, principally attacking Obama’s idea of bringing government too much into the private sector. Other conservative writers here and there are trying their best to be party poopers, but the general and indeed overwhelming view is one of great goodwill and expectations. Thank you Kenn, As I was reading your commentary before I reached your last sentence, I did conclude that those where a bunch of conservative writing and thinking. Here in United States, I would be lying if I don't disclose that the press is biased in favor of Obama. I am loving it but I am scared of America's Media because they will build you up and then tear you up. I am deeply moved by your initial post. I am moved because like many others, not only did I vote for Obama, I have been a of supporter of Obama since 2 years ago when very few thought he could run talk less of winning. Once a again thank you.

chanchaga  # 9 | 21.01.2009 05:50

Big Ken, When I read your message, I could be forgiven if I thought that you were part of the media team covering the event for BBC. 2 years ago, I thought Obama was there to make up the numbers. When he was with Hilary, I thought he had already made history then and when he became the democratic nominee, I never believed it. Now he is the president of the United States of America. The first unbelievable experience of this type of history was when Mandela became president of South Africa and the now Obama. I have hope now that even in Nigeria, an Ibo, Ijaw or anyone from the ethnic minority with substance will be the country's president not because he is from those areas but because he is fully qualified to do the job. I just hope it won’t take 200 years for this to happen. America has led by example again and our leaders need to take note. The younger generation need to take note as well because they will miss it just like the previous generations have done.