Great expectations across US as Obama sworn in
Agence France-Presse | 01/21/2009 3:09 AM
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WASHINGTON - From fixing the economy to restoring America's standing in the world, the millions who celebrated Barack Obama's inauguration Tuesday voiced a daunting wish list for their new leader.
Inspired by Obama's soaring rhetoric of hope and promise of change, a tide of optimism swept through the sea of humanity celebrating across the nation as America's first black president was sworn in.
In Washington, David Cole said he hoped Obama would unite the country, mend the economy, develop green technology and ensure the security and safety of the country, before adding that change would not happen overnight.
"This is a great opportunity but he faces a daunting task," Cole said. "We all have to take a step back and let him breathe a bit. He can't walk on water. This is going to take time."
In New York, Roy Byrd, 63, was among a crowd of around 1,000 gathered in the chilly winter morning to watch the inauguration on a giant screen at Columbia University, describing the event as "America's birthday party."
"Look in the crowd (at the inauguration): all those different faces. It's not only beautiful, it demonstrates that notion of getting diverse people to come together. With Obama, this is something we can believe in," Byrd said.
"This feels like America's birthday party. The trick for him to pull off is to convince us to turn that euphoria into action."
Back in Washington, Neferteti Davis, a 23-year-old law student was huddled with her 62-year-old mother Ophelia, who had traveled from Florida.
Neferteti said she had high hopes for Obama's administration. "People are invested in the idea of hope and change and Obama captured that," she said. "My thing that I want him to fix is education."
Ophelia, who lost her job at a non-profit six months ago, wants Obama to overhaul the US healthcare system.
Joe Marques, a 25-year-old Cuban-American who traveled from Florida, said he hoped Obama could bring about change in America's communist Caribbean neighbor.
"He's going to change matters with Cuba, and that's what we want, we want change in Cuba, democracy in Cuba. Obama can really make a difference with Cuba, unlike Bush," he said.
Among the millions of Americans celebrating, foreigners witnessing history in the making also expressed their hopes for Obama.
Jacqueline Stoff, a 21-year-old French student, said she had delayed her return to Europe in order to see the inauguration. Obama's rise should be a cause for global optimisim she said.
"We expect better things from Obama for the world, better relations. He can be a true leader," she said.
"Tomorrow I will return home happy and filled with hope."
Juan Guerrero from Ecuador said he hoped Obama would help reverse the global economic crisis while simultaneously fostering relations within the international community.
"I would ask him to fix the economy but not forget foreign relations," Guerrero said. "I think that if you get along with your neighbors, the economy puts itself right."
Pedro Gutierrez, a 33-year-old Mexican lawyer based in Washington, said he had felt obliged to participate in a "civic-minded, historic day."
But asked what he expected from Obama he sounded a note of caution: "A lot, maybe too much."
