Special News Report

Posted by Barbara (Florida, United States) on 20 January 2009 in Documentary & Street and Portfolio.

It is Inauguration Day 2009!
For over two hundred years America’s citizens have witnessed Inauguration ceremonies of the President and Vice President of the United States. Since George Washington, in 1789,
Today Barack Obama will become the 44th President of the United States.
America and those around the world will be glued to the inaugural ceremony to witness this historic event unfold.

Unlike another era where their only source to experience history was to huddle around the crackling sound of their big Zenith radio. We have instantaneous connection, audio and visual, to every angle of the event and some of it so small it fits in the palm of our hand.
It is an incredible time for the people as a nation and around the world.

Comments (6)

john4jack from Corvallis, United States

Well said, Barbara. I remember well gathering around the radio listening to President Roosevelt with his Fireside Chats.

20 Jan 2009 6:02am

Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada

Beautiful message Barb, love the photo you chose for it, brilliant...it's gorgeous and full of old world charm, bravo!!!

20 Jan 2009 11:23am

dang from Atlanta, United States

I agree, Barb. A great day in history for us all.

20 Jan 2009 12:12pm

Judy from Brooksville-Florida,, United States

A perfect image to go with your text, Barb.
No matter what side of the political 'fence' we're on, today's excitement takes me back to JFK's inauguration day.
I don't think we've had such hopeful excitement in a long time. God knows we need it!

20 Jan 2009 2:13pm

Ronnie 2¢ from London, United Kingdom

Yes, a momentous day and a unique sense of a 'fresh start'. Will demand a painful turnaround in basic attitudes but I get the impression folks in general feel the time has come. Oh, and I still have a fine Zenith radio right here by my side . . from around 1960, I think !

20 Jan 2009 11:53pm

San G. from Encino, California, United States

I got up at 6:00 to begin to watch the festivities. How thrilling it was to see a peaceful, civil exchange of power. It's been a long day for me, I can only imagine how exhausted the Obamas are at this point. I still see them dancing (on LIVE TV) at a variety of gala parties even as I write this.

Yes, the media is amazing in this day and age. I have a photo of my aunt as a little girl (on her crutches, she had polio) listening to one of FDR's fireside chats on the family radio. It ended up in the newspaper since they both had polio.

PS: My husband has two antique radios - a Schaub-Laurenz and a Metz. I was kind of hoping he'd part with them, but they're really beautiful (and THEY STILL WORK!)

21 Jan 2009 8:12am

@San G.: Thank you for sharing your wonderful story about your Aunt and FDR. It brings into focus just where we are with technology these days. Holding onto that old radio may be the only thing left coming out of that era. Inredible how the Obama's kept going non stop and report for work this morning. A small sacrifice to fill this time in history for future generations. An image of your old, still working radios would be wonderful to see.

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