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America welcomes a new leader

Obama set to become 44th president on Tuesday

On Tuesday, Jan. 20, the eyes of the world will be on Washington, D.C., as Barack Obama takes the oath as America's first African-American president.

The city is abuzz with excitement, and security planned for the event will be extraordinary, as up to 2 million people are expected to come to Washington to witness this historic event, while millions more around the country and the world watch on television or via the Internet.

Hotels have been sold out for months, and some residents in Washington are profiting from the demand by offering their homes or apartments for rent for very hefty sums. Some rentals are going for $1,500 or more per night - about the cost of a night at the five-star Le Saint Géran beach resort.

It will be a federal holiday for most businesses in the Washington area, schools will be closed, passenger train service into the nation's capital has been doubled, the city's metro system will add more trains and extend operating hours, and police and security forces are prepping for any eventuality - from crowd control to a terrorist attack. It will be the most costly inauguration in American history, with a price tag of about $150 million, largely to pay for security of the large crowds.

But the biggest concern might very well be the weather. The entire Northeast of the United States is currently in a deep freeze, experiencing record low temperatures, which are expected to continue into next Tuesday. There's even a slight chance of snow. It might be hard for Mauritians to imagine as they struggle with stifling heat, but Americans attending the inaugural are being urged by authorities to layer their clothing, wear comfortable shoes, double socks, wool hats, thermal underwear, gloves and scarves. Without proper protection, there's a risk of hypothermia, as those attending the inaugural and the parade can expect to stand for hours in the freezing cold.

This historic inauguration will also draw a large number of international visitors. Many of them will come from as far away as Africa, where pride runs strong for Obama, whose father was born in Kenya. Among the guests from Africa will be Obama's step grandmother and step-brother. In addition, a number of Mauritians now living in Canada are making the trip down to Washington to witness history, said Kailash Ruhee, the Mauritian ambassador in Washington.

Ruhee, who is attending his first inaugural as ambassador, said he will represent Mauritius at several functions, including an inaugural ball organized by African ambassadors. It will surely be a lively affair because of Obama's connection to Kenya.

He said he feels privileged to witness such an historic landmark in both U.S. and world history. "This is an especially important event for people like us who have studied in the Deep South," where the blacks and whites were segregated until 40 years ago, said the ambassador, who studied at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.

"It's a particularly emotional moment, coming as it does 45 years after the "I had a Dream" speech by Martin Luther King," the ambassador added in an interview. " It goes to show that America has come a very long way, and I believe the country is now moving to a post racial era."

Excitement has spread around the world. An internet site dedicated to Obama in London is selling tickets to the inauguration for 2,000 pounds (they are free if gotten through a member of Congress). In India and Singapore, there are Obama chat rooms.

The inaugural festivities will begin Tuesday morning when President Bush accompanies Obama from the White House to the west front of the U.S. Capitol building for the swearing-in ceremony, which marks the official transfer of power. The ceremony will be attended by Obama's family, past and future cabinet members, members of the Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives, Supreme Court justices and other invited guests. It will be witnessed by thousands gathered on the National Mall and many more worldwide.

Joseph Biden will be sworn in first as vice president. Then Obama will follow. Standing before Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, he will place his hand on the same Bible President Abraham Lincoln used at his first inauguration in 1861 and swear the 35-word oath that is prescribed in the U.S. Constitution: "I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

George Washington recited the same oath on April 30, 1789, but he added, "So help me God." Most presidents since then have followed Washington's precedent.

American inaugurations are traditionally a time for optimism and unity, even during trying times when the country is at war or in economic trouble - which is the case today. As they have for the past 220 years, political parties put aside their differences to celebrate an American tradition of the peaceful transfer of power from one leader to another.

No matter how acrimonious a campaign has been, Americans focus on the good qualities of their government and of their new leader, giving him - at least for a short time - a break from criticism and a jolt of positive support. This will be especially true with Obama, whose victory created a groundswell of excitement across the country. Like presidents before him, Obama will enjoy a so-called "honeymoon" period during the first few months of his presidency, and this is why the early part of a new administration can be the most productive.

Obama will set the tone for his presidency in his much-anticipated inaugural address. Recognized as an excellent orator, he will use the speech to outline his priorities and vision as the 44th president. Americans will expect an uplifting address, one that reaffirms their own values in democracy, equality and success. Obama will surely talk about the international financial crisis, an economic stimulus package designed to get the economy back on track, about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and of his plans for government reforms.

After the speech, Mr. Bush will leave the Capitol as a private citizen, most likely in a helicopter. Obama and his family will leave the Capitol for lunch, and then lead a mid-afternoon parade that will fill Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the White House with more than 10,000 participants, including musicians from university, high school and military bands, drill teams and military honor guards. Thousands are expected to watch along the parade route.

A highlight of the festive day will be the inaugural balls, at which thousands of people dressed in their finest attire dance the night away. There will be 10 official balls at which Obama and his wife, Michelle, will appear, as well as many other unofficial events sponsored by various groups. One of the most talked-about items of the evening will be the gown chosen by the new first lady. Eventually that gown will hang with the dresses worn by previous first ladies at the Smithsonian museum in Washington.

Most Americans are looking forward to a fresh start in Washington, as leadership passes to one of the youngest presidents in history. In addition, for the first time in years, there will be young children in the White House (Obama's daughters are aged 10 and 7), and also a new dog , as Obama has promised his daughters that a puppy can join them at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. In another novel twist, Marian Robinson, Michelle Obama's 71-year-old mother, will live in the White House with the First Family for an undefined period of time.

It will indeed be a new beginning.

a m e r i c a n   s c e n e

WEEK-END --- dimanche 18 janvier 2009