Obligatory inauguration post

[norwich36]

I was watching the inauguration with about 150 people from work, so I was trying *not* to break down sobbing with happiness the way I did on election night, but it was very challenging during several moments of Obama's speech. I thought I was safe, though, until the closing benediction; when Rev. Lowery got to "Justice shall flow like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream" (which I realize is a biblical quote, but also one MLK Jr. used a lot in his speeches--and of course Rev. Lowery cofounded the SCLC with King), I couldn't keep the floodgates closed. Though I was far from the only person crying.

I already feel like we've entered a new era. I think this strange new feeling is called "hope."

Comments

[myownghost.livejournal.com]

i loved it that he had us beating tanks into tractors, instead of swords into plowshares!

[norwich36.livejournal.com]

I know!!! It was a brilliant prayer. I really want to see the full text.

Lowery's text

[(Anonymous)]

I too would love to know where to find the text of Lowery's benediction. It was brilliant!

Re: Lowery's text

[norwich36.livejournal.com]

Apparently the first part of it was taken from the song "Lift Every Voice and Sing." (I thought it sounded familiar, but I couldn't place it). I still haven't found a transcript, but assuming one can embed video in a comment--which I'm not sure one can--here is the speech itself:

Edited to add And that would be a "no" on embedding in comments. Well, I found it about halfway down the page on getreligion.org, and I think the original was from msnbc.

Here at least is the section of the song that he used:
God of our weary years,
God of our silent tears,
Thou who has brought us thus far on the way;
Thou who has by Thy might
Led us into the light,
Keep us forever in the path, we pray.
Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee,
Lest, our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee;
Shadowed beneath Thy hand,
May we forever stand.
True to our God,
True to our native land.

Re: Lowery's text

[norwich36.livejournal.com]

Here is the complete text: http://norwich36.livejournal.com/161631.html

[latxcvi.livejournal.com]

*nod* I couldn't stop tearing up, Nora. And man, I loved that benediction.

[norwich36.livejournal.com]

Seriously, I felt like Obama's inaugural address was the best political speech I've ever heard. And I hadn't actually looked up the lineup of speakers or anything, and so when I heard Lowery introduced it just hammered home again how profoundly this day symbolized everything the civil rights movement worked for--and then, damn, I am a complete sucker for good preaching (and so rarely hear it) so I was completely overcome.

[christirose.livejournal.com]

{hug} For the first time in eight years, I feel like I have a president who understands not just the constitution but also the ideal that it represents this country is supposed to aim for. This gives me more hope than anything.

[norwich36.livejournal.com]

Yes. A thousand times yes. I felt like after just about every line of that speech I wanted to jump up and down and say, OMG, finally a politician who *gets it.*

[serenography.livejournal.com]

*hugs you*
It was a glorious day for our country.

[norwich36.livejournal.com]

*Hugs back*
Yes, it totally was!