PAGE 2C

THE JACKSON HERALD WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2009

Q&A: The American point of view continued from 1C

•Cindy Thompson, 42, 3. What is the signifi-
Washington, D.C., interviewed cance of having an African-
while riding the Metro to kids’ ball: American president?
“This is an exciting time for the January 18, 2009
country to come together.” •Pete Chang: “We always
January 20, 2009 knew blacks had a lot of talent but
•Milton Payton, 61, never were given advantages.”
Chicago, Ill., interviewed at •Allison Schmidt: “It is
the kitchen table of my host’s incredible and powerful. Based on
home: “The whole Inauguration America’s past struggles, Obama
is important because we are get- is now the most powerful man.
ting rid of Bush ideology, which is It shows change and hope for the
inconsistent with Judeo Christian future.”
belief. Obama is about ‘we’ and •Mike F: “I remember that
not ‘me.’ We have someone when I was 10, I hit a baseball
with intelligence and a work ethic and it dented a neighbor’s car. I
to lead our country in the right ran in my house and the TV was
direction. Also, Obama is African- on and it was the Rev. Martin
American and he is the president the trademark fist ‘bump’ Luther King speaking at the March
who happens to be black. America Milton and Marilyn Payton, Chicago, Ill., demonstrate on Washington. I watched it and
AT HISTORIC EVENT represents millions of drops of the trademark Obama fist “bump.” The Paytons were remembered his words. Although
Thomas Sykes, 18 months, pictured with his mother, water which make a mighty ocean. among the individuals Linda Kirk, Jefferson, inter- the dream is not fulfilled, it will
Kathy, of Chattanooga, Tenn., was among the two mil- (The) Obama administration sup- viewed last week on their thoughts on the new presi- happen sooner than later. Obama
lion people who attended the Inauguration of President ports helping the least of us and dent and on why they attended the Inauguration. was the best candidate for the job
Barack Obama. Thomas is waving an American flag. includes everyone. Obama does Photos courtesy of Linda Kirk and the country needed a great
not use religion as a wedge and president.”
Among the lucky millions that is true Christianity.”
•Brooke Nebel, 40,
do you plan to contribute to
change?
pers until manhood. Our black
women should not be raising
January 19, 2009
•Larry Burney, Sr.: “Through
continued from 1C Atlanta, Ga., interviewed at the
dining room table of my host’s
January 18, 2009
•Pete Chang: “I hope people
our children alone.”
•Cindy Thompson: “I
God all things are possible.”
•Ricky Outlar: “Obama is
home: “As a citizen and having will be less selfish. I plan to help out hope to see the economy get the one for me. He is the first. The
Laurel, Md. Thoroughly fed and showered, we all went to bed early better and that everyone does
worked on the campaign for 13 more in the community, especially president can only do so much.
because we knew we could sleep late and still get a good spot for
months, it is hard to believe that with youth. I am an engineer and their part, because it takes Congress has to back him. He
the “We are One Opening Inaugural Celebration” at the Lincoln
this all started with an idea — will help minorities in technical everyone working together as has been where we have been.
Memorial.
change. We started with getting fields.” a team.” He has been poor. He feels things
Greetings from strangers:
people involved in the political •Allison Schmidt: “My hope January 20, 2009 differently.”
Sunday, January 18, 2009
process and it culminated in the is we learn to see the bigger pic- •Milton Payton: “My hope is •Cindy Thompson: “It shows
We awoke, ate a healthy breakfast, dressed and headed for the Metro
in Greenbelt, Md. We arrived outside the Lincoln Memorial site, stood Inauguration.” ture — the world — and we can that the president shares our rich the America we are now — it’s not
in line for one hour to clear security and then we went inside and found •Marilyn Payton, 58, take pride again in how we see culture with the world. I plan to just about color or race, it’s about
a perfect spot in front of a JumboTron. University Park, Ill., inter- ourselves. I plan to continue to continue what I have always done, the issues that are important.”
You all saw the concert on TV, but viewed at the kitchen table of my educate myself on the political pro- building community playgrounds, January 20, 2009
host’s home: “I was to attend the adding to the already 15 years of
“This trip what you could not feel was the “good
vibrations” in the air. In the south we March on Washington but my
cess and assuming a more active
helping out in my community to
•Milton Payton: “It takes
role. Since I am an American living away a lot of excuses African-
reaffirmed all routinely greet people we do not know; grandmother, at the last minute, in Beijing, (I can) serve sort of as an make it better. I have served as Americans have had. You can do it
however, most people who were strang- canceled the trip. My grandmother president of our local school board
those things I ers to each other warmly greeted each believed that since we were from
ambassador.”
•Mike F: “My hope is we see and I did not have kids in the sys-
if you persevere. This is a positive
role model for kids.”
hold dear — other with hugs, shared their stories the south (Chattanooga, Tenn.) ourselves as an American family tem. I volunteered for the position, •Brooke Nebel: “He is both
regarding why they were there and at that time, that there would be which was unpaid.”
God, family openly showed emotion— both men violence and said no, we would
finally. We drop all of the cynicism.
Obama is the first president who •Brooke Nebel: “I hope we
races — bi-racial — and represents
what America is all about. We
and women.
and friends.” I cannot recall the last time I danced
not be going. This time I could not has a true sense of what afflicts can come together and not be are all different, but we are all
miss the opportunity to be a part the middle class. I serve the courts divided.” Americans.”
— Linda Kirk, Jefferson, on and sang with complete strangers and of this historic event.” •Marilyn Payton: “My hope
as an ombudsman now, but I plan •Marilyn Payton: “It shows
her journey to the Inauguration felt very proud to do so. The day was January 21, 2009 is that we are able to achieve the
everything and more than we could to volunteer and do more public America that we can do anything
•Kirk Cooper, 38, Canada, service. things we want to achieve and we and everything. It shows change,
have hoped for and we left looking
interviewed while standing in line January 19, 2009 stop looking at racism or judging a arrival (and) it exhibits to youth
forward to the next day.
at 4:30 a.m. to enter the National •Larry Burney, Sr.: “My person by the color of their skin, that everything and anything is
In the nation’s capitol:
Mall: “I wanted to be part of his- hope is to see America live out the and that we respect others for possible. No excuses. We are just
Monday, January 19, 2009
tory.” true meaning of its creed and that what they bring to the table.” as capable as everyone else.”
Although today is the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday and Obama
has asked all Americans to spend the day in service to their communi- •Vincent Fossitt, 42, people are judged by the content January 21, 2009 January 21, 2009
ties, our host informed us that many of the service projects had received Buffalo, N.Y., interviewed while of their character. I plan to con- •Kirk Cooper: “My hope •Kirk Cooper: “Regardless of
more than enough volunteers and were actually turning away people. riding the metro: “It was impor- tinue to work in my community is all Americans will get behind the fact that Obama garnered the
We decided to go into D.C. and visit some of the Smithsonian tant because it is the first African- and with my fraternity, Omega Psi President Obama and support popular vote, the people spoke
(Museums). We visited the National Air and Space Museum and the American President.” Phi.” him. I am here, and that is the and said that they wanted change
National Museum of Natural History. •Kevelyn Feliciano, 29, •Ricky Outlar: “I hope the first start. I never thought I would and not repatriation. It shows that
We used this day to allow the kids hands-on interaction with the many Puerto Rico, interviewed while American healthcare system will attend an Inauguration.” the character of the person was
exhibits. standing in the parade line: “This truly help all Americans and that •Vincent Fossitt: “My hope what was important.”
We also were able to slow down a bit and take the time to sit and take is a historical moment, a turning the gap between the rich and is America’s global image will •Vincent Fossitt: “It demon-
in all that was around us. Although the adults had been to Washington point for the USA to have an poor is narrowed. I also hope change. I plan to help my com- strates that you can be whatever
before, I must say I was just as awed as the very first time I had visited African-American president.” Obama’s presidency instills in munity.” you want in America. It demon-
more years ago than I care to admit. black youth not to kill each •Kevelyn Feliciano: “My
2. Hopes and contributions: strates diversity.”
Seeing the Washington Monument, the United States Capitol and hope is that we will become a
President-elect Obama has other — the klan does not have •Kevelyn Feliciano: “It
the Sculpture Gallery with your own eyes — words are incapable of better nation, helping each other
engendered feelings of hope to do that job because we are. shows we are closer to equality for
accurately describing the feelings that surface.
and change. What is your Black men need to step up, during difficult times. I plan to do all people as Martin Luther King
I believe the kids said it best: “Wow, it is bigger than it seems on
TV.” hope for America and how from the time you are in pam- my best to help others.” dreamed.”
Inauguration Day: Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Finally the day we were all waiting for, Inauguration Day.
We awoke at 2 a.m., drove to the Metro and arrived in D.C. at 4:30.
We stood in one line for 30 minutes, only to be told it was the line to
access the parade route.
We made our way, following Washington Mall signs, to an even
larger crowd to wait in line for nearly four hours to again be told that we ANOINTED HANDS MEDICAL SERVICES
needed to go elsewhere.
We were directed to access the National Mall by walking through
a tunnel. The walk took another hour, but we finally arrived at the
~ Family Practice ~
National Mall, which was beyond crowded. Imagine you are a sardine
in a can — well, that would have been spacious.
~ Internal Medicine ~
Although we arrived bitterly cold (hand and foot warmers seemed to
have little effect) and tired (walked untold miles), we were so happy to
be among the lucky millions to make it in.
The program flowed quickly and the place went crazy when pres- Now accepting new patients!
ident-elect Obama became the 44th president. Due to the size of the
crowd, overwhelmed trains and stressed D.C. police, it took four hours
to get to the one of two Metro trains which were actually running. We Located at
found out later that a decision had been made to close many of the sta-
tions which had been opened that morning. Needless to say, that deci- 1215 Tuscany Drive, Suite A
sion being made without advance warning created very angry people;
however, in spite of it all, there was no violence and no one was arrested. (Off Hwy 211 across from Chateau Elan Estates)
In fact people exercised extreme patience.
Riding back on the Metro with swollen feet and aching back, I looked
at my husband, smiling and saying in spite of what we went through, it Braselton, GA 30517
was worth it, and everyone else agreed.
Driving back to Jefferson, Ga., in the early morning hours, I reflected
on our trip. We broke bread and shared living space with people we had
not known before. We saw Washington through the eyes of children,
Call 770-307-1880
which always makes things new. Finally, I saw us endure cold, pain and for an appointment.
inconvenience without the usual complaint.
This trip reaffirmed all those things I hold dear — God, family and
friends.
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