I can't believe how upset I am about this.
Yesterday I watched as much as I could of the inauguration festivities. I didn't see everything and certainly couldn't hear everything because I was watching a live feed on my computer. Mostly I was working, so I missed a lot.
One thing I missed apparently, was the reaction when George Bush was announced at the inauguration. The man was still our president, our out-going president, but our president none-the-less.
Today I saw a video. With sound. I could not believe that at an important national event like the inauguration ceremonies of our new president, that people in the crowd would BOO the current president, showing him complete disrespect.
This was not a losing sports team. It wasn't someone who could not sing on American Idol. This man was our president for 8 years. Whether people think he did not do a good job, or people think his policies were wrong, is not the point. Everyone has their beliefs in that regard and I am not going to go into that now. But to boo a sitting president at the inauguration of the new one?
I was ashamed.
Our former president was nothing but lovely and gracious to President and Mrs. Obama. He wished them well and I believe he meant it. I also believe that Barack Obama would not have wanted that kind of behavior to mar such an important day.
You've heard the term, ugly American? Yeah. Here was an occasion that was supposed to be such an important step for our country, people gushing left and right about how momentous the whole thing was. People around the world were watching yesterday. We were moving forward, and making history. And some of those "ugly Americans" proved that we are exactly what other countries already believe we are.
I know it wasn't the majority booing. But it wasn't just a scattered few either. And any citizen of our country who was in that crowd yesterday was a representative for our nation in front of the world.
All of this talk of hope and change - none of that can take place if people are incapable of even basic human decency for goodness sake. Makes me wonder if some of us are actually ready for change after all.
**Edited to add - I said Thank You.
