"O" Day In History

Today I woke up early to watch Barack Obama's inauguration on CNN. Though I'm not a big fan of the US, I must admit that the American people made the world proud by electing their first black president. Martin Luther King Jr. must be listless in his grave, hoping to join in today's historic celebration. Perfect timing too, because last Monday was a national holiday in memory of the civil rights leader. Who would have thought that after four decades, his "I Have A Dream" speech would become a reality...

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."

He was Man of the Year by Time magazine in 1963 and a Nobel Peace Prize recipient. Wow.

Even his son, Martin Luther King III, was hopeful about the 44th US president. He said in an interview yesterday that all the suffering paid off and that for his daughter's generation (and generations to come), having a black president would be a norm, nothing out of the ordinary. I can't imagine how it was decades ago, when black people can't eat in the same restaurant as the whites, or pee in the same toilet. After all the unrest and countless deaths, things are finally looking up for the African American community. But that's not to say that Obama got into office because he's black -- from what I've read and heard, he's a smart guy with high morals. I mean, after Bush, what else could you ask for? We're done with Bushisms.

Reports say an estimated 2 million people gathered at the National Mall to watch the inauguration. They cheered, they clapped, they cried. It's a feeling that I've never felt for any president back home, which is sad. I wish one day I'd say "oh that's our president and I'm very proud of him/her." I was too young to appreciate neither Marcos, Aquino or Ramos; old enough to know that Erap was not cut out to be a leader; and mature enough to know that honesty and integrity is not part of Arroyo's vocabulary. One day, our time will come when we'll be ecstatic to see a leader who will take the Philippines out of the dumps. America showed us that it's possible. One day.

Today is O Day. Did you see the way the first couple walked and waved at the crowd? They did it like ordinary citizens, with Mrs. O even giving the thumbs-up sign. Not at all like the poised royalties who sit on their bottoms and wave like robots. And the best part is, Obama got into office because the people put him there, not by "royal" bloodline. 

Together with the whole world, I'll be watching and waiting for President Obama's next move, especially his first 100 days. Today signifies a new change and hopefully, for the better.

Anything is possible now.