The city is electric. People are as kind to each other as they have been at each stage of the ever-increasing waves pouring into D.C., but tonight they walk with a purpose. They pack into the metro cars, pushing past people politely but with faces set. The CVS's of the city have become supply stations to those stocking up for tomorrow's journey into uncharted political territory - a singular moment in the history of this country and, to use that word so fervently co-opted by the Obama campaign, one of hope.
We know Obama is only one human being. We know he is set to inherit one of the most disastrous presidential legacies in recent memory. We know that we may have unreasonably high expectations of him, but know also that those expectations are only possible because he has renewed our belief in the comatose concept of integrity in politics.
As to the import of this particular inauguration, the editor of The Washington Post Magazine put it nicely:
"Any inauguration is significant, but one proving that we live in a nation where, when the chips were down, a candidate was judged not by the color of his skin but by the content of his character, is a dream come true."
- Tom Shroder
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