Chaos in Washington doesn’t keep people from having hope in Obama

WASHINGTON – Bitter cold. Overcrowded restaurants. Crowds of unmoving people. Chaos.

About 2 million people packed the National Mall on Tuesday to attend the inauguration of America’s first black president. The sea of people extended from the Capitol building to the Lincoln Memorial, nearly a two-mile stretch. But the distance and commotion surrounding Washington hardly mattered to those who turned out, for one reason.

History.

That one word on nearly everyone’s lips was enough. Simply being there was worth any sacrifice, many said.

“People were freezing; there were crowds everywhere, and I think that folks understood that they were making the kind of comfort sacrifice,” said Shirley Owens-Hicks of Boston. “Yet the sacrifice was willingly made because this is just about the most monumental, special and important occasion in history that I think any of us have ever witnessed.”

Owens-Hicks, along with a group of people she had just met, was standing in the ticketed area, unable to hear or see the speech. But like many others, it hardly mattered to them. She met fellow spectator Melissa O’Brien, and they decided to call people they knew and listen via cell phone to what was actually just blocks away from them.

“We called three different residences, and we turned up our cell phones and everybody huddled and listened,” O’Brien said. “I will tell you that the one thing that was consistently true throughout this is everyone’s behavior was so stellar. Nobody could have been nicer. Everybody was cooperative. Nobody lost their tempers. Nobody was disrespectful.”

With about 2 million people in the country’s capital, the city was past capacity. Some Metro stations were even forced to shutdown midday, Lt. Kim Babcock of the Arlington County Police said.

“The infrastructure wasn’t there to handle the crowd that came,” he said.

This is the first time police have closed two interstate highways, Babcock, who has worked there for 27 years, said.

“It’s unprecedented,” he said. “People are ready for change.”

The oath of office and inaugural address took place shortly after noon, with most people far from even a clear view of the Capitol. As quickly as Barack Obama brought up the nation’s economic problems, he quickly reassured Americans of his urge to fix them and his plan to “begin again the work of remaking America.”

“Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious, and they are many,” Obama said. “They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America: They will be met.”

Many spectators got up before dawn to wait in line – even those in ticketed areas. For Baltimore resident Amy Hoffmann, seeing the culmination of a two-year campaign was worth it, despite outside circumstances.

“I was just standing there being like, ‘No one can take this away from me no matter what,’” Hoffman said. “No matter what happens, I’m always going to have this speech to look back on and think, ‘Wow, I was there.’”

Bryan Woodward, who watched the speech at a friend’s house downtown but made the drive from Atlanta for the inaugural parade, said the speech made a good impression not only on America, but the rest of the world.

“It’s the point where I think people can really wake up and say this is a turning point and a call to be Americans,” Woodward said. “This is the time. Out with the old, in with the new.”

Bill Brigman, from Washington, said the speech “reached out to the world while still acknowledging the threat that exists.” He said Obama was careful to point out hard times would still be on the way.

“My hope is that the honeymoon doesn’t end,” Brigman said. “When things get tough ... it’s not going to turn around tomorrow. How patient can we be? He had a call to action for everybody.”