Today is an important day. The end of an era, the beginning of a new one. I know that I, personally, have been counting down to this day for almost a year. Today marks the beginning of a change we can believe in. Today, we celebrate the power of democracy and the power of the human spirit.
Why yes, it is my 19th birthday. How’d you know?
While true, that’s not really a national holiday or anything, though, I mean, it probably should be. For those of you living under a rock the last year, or just living with a faulty internet connection, today is the inauguration of 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama. This is kind of a big deal.
So big, in fact, that the following email was sent out to the MIT community from Chancellor Clay last week:
Dear MIT Community,In response to employee requests, and due to the historic nature of this presidential inauguration, on Tuesday, January 20, cable viewingof the inaugural swearing-in and speech will be available in rooms 10-250, 3-270, 4-270, 32-123 and E51-151.
We request that supervisors and managers be flexible in allowing employees to use their lunch breaks to watch the inaugural swearing-in and speech. In addition, for those who wish to watch more of the inauguration than their lunch breaks allow, or whose lunch breaks do not coincide with the time of the inauguration, the Institute will allow employees to supplement their lunch breaks with release time of no more than 1 1/2 hours, between 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m..
(For those of you just living somewhere not-at-MIT, those hyphenated numbers are actually lecture halls. First number is building, second is room. Not really important, but just fun fact.)
Even the hacking community chimed in.
Closer.
Even closer.
Yeah, this is cool. Go watch. This is history in the making. Any thoughts on the next 4 years?
Comments (Closed after 30 days to reduce spam)
Posted by: Oasis '11 on January 20, 2009
Posted by: Snively on January 20, 2009
Posted by: Dhvanit on January 20, 2009
So Shannon, was this post intended to let us know of your birthday or you're really in for Mr.Obama(Yippe!)..Kiddin..Happy-Dappy Birthday to you! The pictures are indeed B-E-A-U-tiful!
As for the next four years, I hope to complete my Under-Graduate education at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, as in MIT [I love the name!]
And lets hope Mr.Obama does manifest the changes he/we/us believe in! But yes, for one thing, I've presently got this gut feeling which tells me that there're going to be some major * changes in the world over the next four years..No straight ideas about what, but just feeling that at the moment..
[********** = substitute it yourself *no offense*]
Posted by: Dhvanit on January 20, 2009
2nd, the inauguration is a really important event, and it's going to be watched all around the world ( I think I know, cause I'm from Egypt, did u know that Obama received the nuclear missile launch codes today morning ?)
and finally,even though it's an important day and all, it's really terrifying, cause my GCE AS November results get smsed to us when the clock strikes midnight...
Posted by: Mina Adel on January 20, 2009
Posted by: Kelly ('13 Hopeful) on January 20, 2009
Posted by: sepidehtje on January 20, 2009
Does anyone else get the feeling that Joe Biden thought he was going to spend his whole life in the Senate, and now goes around in a constant daze, like he won the political lottery or something?
Posted by: Jacob '13 on January 20, 2009
Posted by: fidel on January 20, 2009
Posted by: James on January 20, 2009
Posted by: grfan on January 20, 2009
Happy birthday, by the way!
Posted by: Reena '13 on January 20, 2009
Posted by: fidel on January 20, 2009
Posted by: Roshini on January 20, 2009
hacks at MIT are secret business ; )
@everyone else
the seniors got to watch it at school in our auditorium ^_^ It will make such a difference around the world just the fact that america has a black president. I think many less accepting countries will see racism in a new light, since it's the US. and on top of that, obama gave an awesome speech! the second half was especially moving. I really hope he does well.
Posted by: deng on January 20, 2009
Posted by: 0 on January 20, 2009
I'm so tired of hearing about our first "black" president. Obama is biracial. The fact that we have a biracial president is something to be proud of in and of itself, but somehow we only hear about his African American side. We need to get rid of this white/not white mentality.
Disclaimer: This isn't meant as an attack on anyone, just a general observation.
Posted by: Steph '13 on January 20, 2009
My entire school gathered in the auditorium to watch the speech. It was really something.
Obama!!
Posted by: Stacy on January 20, 2009
Posted by: 0 on January 20, 2009
Posted by: Claire on January 20, 2009
Posted by: Brandon on January 20, 2009
Because today was my first day of finals.
Inauguration day, and we have finals!
): So nobody at my school saw it.
-proceeds to watch online-
Posted by: Anonymous on January 20, 2009
(They merited individual comments.)
Posted by: Anonymous on January 20, 2009
Uh oh, I guess I'll have to put my initial now... haha.
@anonymous
My AP Gov teacher stopped us in the middle of our final so we could watch it, haha.
http://www.DidIGetIntoMIT.com
Posted by: Brandon C. on January 20, 2009
But awesome pictures of the hacks!!! ^_^
Posted by: Sheila ('13?) on January 20, 2009
I think that one of the most important things President Obama will do for America is to restore confidence (in our government, in the economy, in our educational system)among her people. Of course, I sincerely hope and do believe he will be able to enact prudent reforms, but I think that his ability to inspire hope will be one of the most important things he can give our nation. I'm optimistic that President Obama will return some of the USA's focus abroad to Afghanistan (I feel very strongly that it is possible to make a safe and secure Afghanistan by meeting the needs of its people - building public infrastructure and securing its borders). I'm certain that Mr. Obama can help the US regain the respect of other nations over the course of his term (as BBC news has reported, he was met with enthusiasm by Middle-Eastern leaders during his recent tour of the region). I'm excited that our 44th President is a former professor and possesses an inquisitive and intelligent mind. President Obama has often spoken of his belief that applying science and new technology can help us solve today's problems in innovative ways. I believe he will stand by this and that his term will be a Renaissance of sorts for science. I think Mr. Obama will address the dire situation facing our nation's youth today - approximately 50% of teens don't finish high school. Through his inspiring example, economic stimulus package, devotion to education and experience working with Americans in the bottom quartile of yearly income I think Mr. Obama will do an excellent job as President.
Posted by: Liz on January 20, 2009
I thought I'd see something more royal-like. Perhaps Bush handing over a sword/constitution/thing to Obama. Hmm...I'm getting those red squiggly lines under "Obama" and "Hmm". Shouldn't they be in firefox's dictionary add-on?
Posted by: Goutam on January 20, 2009
I agree with you about the benediction. There's a huge difference between being lighthearted and being offensive, and Lowery's attempts at humor were blatantly racist and very inappropriate.
Posted by: Liz (again) on January 20, 2009
I believe the phrase was "White, embrace what is right." The entire monologue of colors was from an old song popular during the civil rights era, so it was not supposed to be a modern sounding thing. The preacher also had a very Baptist style to him, and these things are often taken in a more light manner. It isn't supposed to be offensive or shocking, just make you chuckle. I chuckled at "Red man get ahead, man"
Overall, I have very high hopes for the Obama administration. I worked hard to help him get PA, and felt proud that I helped bring this about. I think that Obama represents a restored interest in the future by a generation that is increasingly marked by apathy. I haven't been around that long, but I can't imagine such fervor and excitement and hope is a common occurrence in American politics.
Posted by: Kiss '13 on January 20, 2009
@ Steph
You're right- the world isn't divided into "white" and "non-white," but a lot of people perceive it that way, and I think (having read Dreams from my Father) that Obama was pushed (for lack of a better word) into the non-white category and that that defined his experiences enough that we can fairly call him "black." By the same token, the fact that his mother was white doesn't make his election, or any of his other accomplishments, less extraordinary.
Posted by: Ruth '13 on January 20, 2009
congrats to president barack obama :]
Posted by: jay on January 20, 2009
I had midterms today so I got home at 10:45 and proceeded to spend the next 5 hours watching inauguration coverage instead of studying.
The piece composed by John Williams was amazing. Obama's speech was amazing. I really need to find a better adjective than amazing... but I can't put it into words. His speech made me so happy that I turned 18 in time to vote for him, though.
Now I just hope Kennedy's alright.
Posted by: Kelly ('13 Hopeful) on January 20, 2009
I agree with you on everything but the fact that we can fairly call him black. (Sidenote: I also don't think it matters terribly how we refer to him, but it has been irking me since he won the election.) As a multiracial (African American, Native American, Lebanese, and Irish to be precise) girl growing up in a white middle class area that borders a predominantly African American city that hasn't seen prosperity since the 20s, white and non-white has always meant black versus white. Since I was clearly not white, I must be black. It's how I subconsciously thought of myself and continue to, to this day. Being partially African American did define most of my school experience in a number of ways from the child in preschool who told me he wasn't allowed to play with me because of how I looked to the look of interested surprise on a teacher's face when I walked in on the first day of an AP class. However, I still happily embrace all parts of my heritage, as I believe Obama does, judging from the way he speaks of his mother and her influence. Just because he grew up in a time or place that defined him as black because he wasn't white does not mean that is what he is.
Posted by: Steph '13 on January 20, 2009
Posted by: Lainers '12 on January 20, 2009
Posted by: Sara on January 21, 2009
Posted by: i on January 21, 2009
Posted by: River '13 on January 21, 2009
Posted by: Tree on January 21, 2009
Posted by: Ashwin on January 21, 2009
Posted by: Banerjee on January 21, 2009
Posted by: HST on January 21, 2009
Posted by: HST on January 21, 2009
"approximately 50% of teens don't finish high school"
nu-uh... really?
@Sara:
"Let's just say I don't know what Obama said in the next four sentences because there were endless eruptions of screaming and applause. I love MIT. :D"
hahaha.. it's little things like these that make up the most important reason I want to go there
Posted by: deng on January 21, 2009
Posted by: SRV on January 21, 2009
One of my favorite parts of the speech too
But the few lines after it were also among my favorites, so.... xD
Posted by: Reena '13 on January 21, 2009
Posted by: Reena '13 on January 21, 2009
I went to this summit and Alma Powell mentioned it a few times(ok, more than a few times. It was like the rallying cry of the weekend lol). Going back and reading one of the more recent reports though (http://www.americaspromise.org/uploadedFiles/AmericasPromiseAlliance/Dropout_Crisis/SWANSONCitiesInCrisis040108.pdf) it looks closer to about 60% graduation rate, which is still alarming. Sorry for reporting hearsay!
Posted by: Liz on January 21, 2009
it's ok, but I'm still shocked that it's so low...
I always thought most people graduated.. like 90%+
I guess I was naive.
Posted by: deng on January 21, 2009
Posted by: Kim'13 on January 21, 2009
His stance on illegal immigration and the replacement of the IRS with the FairTax system are wonderful. Not to mention he is pro-life and fights for the teaching of creationism alongside evolution. America needs a man of the moral and Christian standard that Huckabee embodies.
Had his name been in the public arena, he would have been the GOP party's nominee in 2008.
It's a shame that this country has slowly fallen away from the standards that our forefathers built it on.
Posted by: Huck for Prez on January 21, 2009
"...fights for the teaching of creationism alongside evolution." Careful saying that on an MIT site, all the course 7s and such might just tear you apart.
I thought Huckabee was funny to watch, but could not agree with a single stance he took.
Posted by: Kiss '13 on January 21, 2009
I don't think so. Remember, George Bush made his presidential bid by appealing to the (relatively) far right -- and remember that for the last few months Bush's approval ratings have been hovering around 25%. I think one of the main reasons Huckabee didn't get the nomination (besides the fact that he's a lunatic...) is because the Republican Party realized that the country would not elect another conservative Republican after the fiasco of Bush's presidency. They decided to take a bet with middle-of-the-road McCain, who was about as far as a politician can get from Bush while remaining a Republican. Of course, the fact is that Bush had dirtied the name of the Republican Party so much that they could have nominated Jesus Christ and Obama still would have been elected... it'll be interesting to see what they come up with in 8 years, though.
Posted by: Liam '12 on January 21, 2009
That was a real shot in the foot for the GOP.
Posted by: Kiss '13 on January 21, 2009
It's worth pointing out that, socially conservative though Huckabee is, he's actually pretty liberal on a lot of other issues. For example, Huckabee did support a government-mandated universal health care system, which is unusual for a Republican. He also had a strong stance on global warming, calling for aggressive measures protecting the environment and reducing emissions. Finally, he basically believes that we should open our borders to immigrants -- I believe during one of the debates he stated his opinion that illegal immigrants end up paying more in taxes than they receive in benefits. In fact, with all these discrepencies, I find it a little odd that Huckabee chose to run in the Republican primaries, instead of as an independent candidate. Now that I think about it, that's another reason he didn't get nominated -- his positions on so many issues differ from the GOP stance.
Posted by: Liam '12 on January 21, 2009
Posted by: Narce on January 21, 2009
@Ruth '13
I've successfully made all 4 of the college classes I've taken during my high school career, including the linear algebra I am currently in, during the evening! Why on earth would you want it in the middle of the school day?!
Posted by: Narce on January 21, 2009
Straight from the Huckabee campaign website:
"Huckabee's immigration plan for the presidential campaign is to build a border fence, increase border patrol, prevent amnesty, enforce the law on employers, establish an economic border, empower local authorities, ensure document security, discourage dual citizenship, and modernize the process of legal immigration. He says the United States' number one priority should be to secure America's borders, and supports building a 700-mile border fence. He said of the border, "Police it, absolutely. Militarize it, no." Huckabee supports increases in visas for highly-skilled and highly-educated applicants. Huckabee does not support an end to birthright citizenship."
Seems fairly strict on immigration to me.
Posted by: Huck for Prez on January 21, 2009
i read kleppner and kolenkow but after the first 75 pages they compress the material too much and i do tend to get lost quite often reading the thing.
feymann is too short and theoretical. any other book will be good if anyone can suggest one to me.
Posted by: rankeya on January 21, 2009
I have a few:
If you want something broad, there's a rather old one by Jay Orear you could look into.
A text slightly easier to digest than K&K is Resnick and Halliday
If you want a high-school-textbook style, Physics for Scientists and Engineers by Tipler and Mosca presents the calculus-based curriculum with glossy pages and ample color pictures
Posted by: 0 on January 21, 2009
In any case, this debate is pointless as Barack Obama has already been elected president. I doubt we'll be seeing Huckabee on the national stage again for quite some time, if ever -- I think his chances of becoming president at this point are about on par with Dennis Kucinich's.
And Narce -- if only I were class of '13 I would accompany you to the voting booth. Alas, my MIT vote for Obama has already been cast. In November 2012 I'll be off in the real world... what a scary thought.
Posted by: Liam '12 on January 21, 2009
Posted by: rankeya on January 22, 2009
Posted by: Arfa '13 on January 22, 2009
Posted by: Alex on January 23, 2009
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