Title: Obama - Across The Pond
Tags: gaykeywest, OBAMA, Duchess, God Save The Queen,
Blog Entry: It was interesting flying home the day after Barack Obama was inaugurated as the 44th President of the USA. Enabling us to get a view of the ceremony from both sides of the Atlantic. Bumping into fellow Brits on Duval street just before leaving we exchanged views that the ceremony although marvellously attended by the biggest crowd ever, was a little lacklustre. However we put this down the fact that here in the UK events like this have a lot of ceremony, pomp and circumstance, along with marvellous historic costumes, carriages and heraldry. The view from this side of the pond is somewhat mixed. A majority of Brits think that we have cosied up to Bush for too long and that the change is for the good. Already Obama has condemned Guatamo Bay and our people appear to want to do all that we can to close down the camp and bring an end to the atrocities that have been carried out there. Also the stance that Obama is taking on the Middle East is being applauded. Getting back to the inauguration ceremony, his choice of Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at his swearing-in ceremony on the steps of the US Capitol has caused outrage in the gay community. "Pastor Rick", as he brands himself, supports the banning of gay marriage and is an opponent of abortion. The gay rights movement was already spoiling for a fight in the wake of a gay marriage ban in California, and activists are being vocal in their outrage. Mistake us for thinking that we were back in Great Britain, one of the opening pieces of music, although the words were unfamiliar, the tune was undoubtedly our national anthem "God Save The Queen" Aretha Franklin, the gospel and jazz singing "Queen of Soul". What a marvellous outfit and hat she wore, however some felt a little more youth and zest may have been more appropriate. Barrack Obama's address, was down to earth and reached out to all sections of society, regardless of political alliance. Come on lets get down to work and make this word. I hope he is sincere in his wishes, it is not only America and Britain that are in mess but whole damned world. George Bush's greatest legacy of eight years in power is undoubtedly the fact that he made it possible for Barack Obama to be elected in the first place. The Presidential Oath. Watching the ceremony live l thought that it was the President of 4 Minutes (The well oiled machine running 4 minutes late - Oh dear) that made the slip up. It wasn't until later that evening talking to Cruella that l learned it was the Chief Justice that had fluffed his words, causing The New President to slip up. Obama did not slip up at all in my opinion, delivering his address without once appearing to refer to any form of prompt. A taste of things to come l think. In conversation with a friend here in the UK, she commented that she got the distinct impression that Chief Justice of the United States The Honourable John G. Roberts, Jr. Was a touch racialist - I wonder. On a final note. Was anyone else under the opinion that Elizabeth Alexander got away with her poetry reading because she was standing behind a bullet proof glass screen. GOD BLESS AMERICA AND ALL OUR AMERICAN FRIENDS AND PRESIDENT OBAMA Comment - Reply- or Simply Your Thoughts duchess@gaykeywest.co.uk
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