Hongera, Congratulations

Today I watched the inauguration of Barack H. Obama on the Big Screen at the Northwestern Auditorium. I felt extremely privileged to participate, as I watched, in this historic moment of inauguration ceremony of the 44th U.S. president. I liked the whole ceremony, but the spirit of the moment is what pulled me most. The sense of oneness, of power, of hope, of life again was immensely present. This spirit of the moment was, in my view, brought by the presence of the multitude of peoples who, like the seas, oceans swayed back and forth at the power of this spirit. The spirit in the sound of peoples' shouts, "Obama," the spirit in the sound of music, and particularly the song by Aretha Franklin, "My Country." The sound of music composition of the day, a string ensamble, "Air and Simple Gifts" by John Williams . I was engrossed in taking all these wonderful sounds in when at one time, the big screen seemed to lose the network at which those watching loudly protested and clarity of screen returned. As I continued watching, it was clear to me that the spirit of the moment became embodied in the powerful speech of the 44th U.S. president, Barack H. Obama. The new president has the charisma to sustain the people's interest and attention for as long as it takes. His call for a return to the old truths and values of the American peoples is no less than a return to the values of truth and justice to the whole of the human race. God bless the President and his people!

Hongera! Swahili for Congratulations to the peoples of the United States of America for your new president!