I was going to say something like that. =/
I meant to point out that this generation isn't
nearly as segregated or racist as it used to be,
at least around here, which is why I found it
hard to understand why people were acting like
it was a big deal to them (this generation)

I understand for those who had to deal with it.

Eh, maybe it's just because I'm not a supporter
and I'm just looking for faults. I'm trying to be
open-minded and hope for the best, but I'll have
my doubts.

Laughed at who? The Chief Justice? He was the one who messed up.

Again, you are young so I don't expect you to be able to get the whole impact, but he DID make history. This day is a very important day in America's history as it symbolizes an important turn in America's future.

Chances are you will remember this day for the rest of your lives. I know I will.

I don't doubt I'll remember this forever.
It's definitely different from the past.

You won't be allowed to forget it. Trust me.

I know for a fact I will remember this day forever, very important ^_^

I'm not sure...all I know is they started laughing and when I asked what happened they said 'He messed up' I'm guess they were talkin bout him.

Yes, I understand that he DID make history, but I just don't get what the big deal is...heck, I'm more interested in the group of 7th graders that got press credentals to go to the Inaguration...but that's just me...I focus on less important things.

And sure, I'll remember it. Though I'll also remembered how much it annoyed me to hear the arguments about the ups and downs of a black president.

Im surprised that some people cant understand why they're making such a big fuss over this. So, i guess i just put it this way, this will be one of the 1st things kids from now on will learn in Black history month, and it'll forever be burned into American history doesn't matter if "(he's half white)" This is a pretty epic & historical event, even non Americans can understand this, i don't get how you cant understand the significance :confused: Anyways, i just hope you fixes what bush destroyed.

I don't understand why everyone is making a big deal out
of him being "BLACK" when he's not even full black. That's
what I don't get. He's just as much white as he is black.
That's all I was saying.

Also, QUESTION?
Did any of our past presidents have other ethnicity's in them?
Just curious...

... I don't really want to go into this further, because
most people on here are Obama Supporters, so I guess
it's all just on your opinions.

Anyone supporting Obama won't understand where I'm
coming from and I won't understand where they're
coming from.

It's too much controversy.
Also, I don't think just because I'm "young" I won't
understand topics like this, because for my age, I'm
actually very mature and intelligent.

=]

You live in the South and don't get this?

Just because his mother is white doesn't mean Obama isn't black.
Race isn't a math formula, it's a social construct.

Here's the real math:

White man + white woman = white baby.
Black man + white woman = black baby.
White man + black woman = black baby.
Black man + white woman = black baby.

There are no fractions or percentages that are signifigant. Very few black people in America have only African blood running through their veins...just like our new president. That doesn't mean they aren't black, or a "half" something this or "quarter" something that. Racism doesn't see percentages.

That's why the election and today's inauguration are so significant. America got over that high hurdle it was unable to until now. I am sure you are mature and intelligent enough to get that.

Ok so an update from the front lines its still insane here at 5:32pm and its getting colder but considering that my 4 cool ass Germans shared there beer with me im not feeling it as much.

I was hoping to get a picture of Obama in the motorcade but i had a very horrible position and even being tall i couldn't get a decent shot. A lot of people are actually starting to file out now because of the cold but the real parties are later at the hotels which im not sure if i can make some of them because of work tomorrow.

Im going around trying to basically find people who came from other countries to see the Inauguration and get their opinions on the future of the US under Obama so far i have met people from Japan, Germany, the UK, Africa, Sweden (those guys were nuts had no shirts on lol) Greenland and Pueto Rico.

I heard that the finally count were about 2.5 million people showed up for the speech and there were more security details on duty than there are troops in Afghanistan. WOW:eek: I did see a couple Snipers up roofs near PA ave.

No, I wasn't saying he wasn't black, it just appears that
everyone is only focusing on his black half.
I'd rather people talk more about his politics and future
decisions besides the fact that he's the first "black"
president.

I think that is what gives so many people hope. As most people know, ex-president Bush's approval ratings went way down over the last eight years. Most older Americans are excited to see Obama as president because he is African American, but I know that as an American teenager (and extreme Obama supporter) that that's not what really makes him special especially to the younger generation. He brings hope and change. Mainly the hope that people have lost over the past few years. I am amazed at people who can complain about Obama without understanding the politics behind all this. I think America needs to smarten up.

Sorry, I know this thread really isn't for politics. I watched the innaguration, and I thought it was amazing (minus the poem). Obama's acceptance speech was really inspiring, and I can fully understand why people were crying. He is really an inspirational man.

People aren't fractions. They don't come in halves and quarters.

And people are talking about both things. The historical signifigance of his race is history-making, but what he does from tomorrow on is what people are really concerned about and are hopeful for. His history is important in that respect because he has had experiences no other president has. No one thinks he can be successful JUST because he is black, but he has made it this far DESPITE the fact that his race would have been a disadvantage, and STILL made it to the top seat in the country. Now we'll see what he can do.

I'm kind of mad at myself for not waking up on time, I saw the parade,
and was kind of nevious when he got out of the limusine,
just becouse a coworker say that alot of people were trying to kill him
this co worker is african american and I got to think that maybe he is the one that is not ready for change.
I realy think he is the right person to deliver change to america

Fractions? lol.
Well then, how do I put this? I'm a fraction.
1/4 Native American 1/4 Italian 1/4 Egyptian 1/4 French

It's just your heritage, and he is half African American
(or was it Muslim?)

Eh, I don't see it.
That's all the teacher's talked about, and what everybody
at school talked about. The newspapers (my city) don't
mention anything about it, but that's just around here.

Anytime I was unfortunate enough to catch the news,
those were the words out of a News Anchor's mouth.

I must just only be seeing part of it.

Well, he's not all black, not to sure how many African Americans in these days are "all black" even if they look darker than him. The sad fact is, people usually stick you in the group that is most dominantly shown in your physical attributes.. So Obviously, hes a person of color, his "Black" features are more dominant that his "white" features, most people would just call people who look like him a "light skinned black guy/girl" Bob Marley was lighter than Obama , but he was still considered black.. I guess we do this to keep the groups more simple, i dunno. I mix a see allot are Asian-Japanese/Spanish, usually, they're branded as Asian based on their looks, no 1 wants to start a new category called "Japanic"

Just for the record, im not a supporter, im not a citizen so i couldn't vote, i just understand why they are making a big deal out of it.:D But from what I've seen you post, it seems as if your only gripe with him is he's "not all black" but i dunno. We can drop this:vsign: Now that he is actually the president people will stop talking about the color of his skin and how he made history. Now they will talk about what he has done, or is doing with the country.

lol brilliant formula, i just had to add the key.:vsign:

I'm a very un-racist person, which I guess it's not at all
a big deal to me. I have the idea that he made history
just as much as the rest of the presidents have. I'm just
stubborn like that, I guess.

"Japanic" --- LOL.

It's not the only thing I'm griping about, it's just whenever
people talk about him, I don't hear anything about his politics
or decisions, etc, and that is what I would rather hear so I
can have more faith in him as our president, but if all I'm
hearing is "He's the 1st black president" then I don't know much
about him at all.

---I'm not sure if I can put it any way other than that.

=/

I'm a very paranoid and suspicious person, and I don't trust
much, which is why I'm very skeptical. I would be no matter
who became president, it's just my personality.

Also, I would like to mention :
This is only describing skin color, I'm thinking
more along the lines of ethnicity and heritage.

His father was born in Kenya, and his mother is of English and Irish descent. He is Christian not Muslim.

"Rosa sat so Martin could walk; Martin walked so Obama could run; Obama is running so our children can fly."
That just shows how much hope Americans have now. He is a change and so we associate that with the idea that he will bring change.

You don't have to be racist to see the signifigance.


I'll be honest, I guess you aren't looking, because if you think this election is just the same as every one before it then you need to go back and look again.

Do yourself a favor and watch the news tonight. Read a newspaper tomorrow morning.

Again, start watching the news. Starting reading the newspapers. Start looking at news sites online. If you don't like the information that surrounds you, then surround yourself with different information.


That formula is just how it works in America.

I know! That's my whole point. It seems the media just cares about the History...not his views or anything

Most of the presidents give me the creeps. I guess its the whole fact that we are puttin our trust in one single person and hope he(or she) doesn't ruin the whole country

I don't really agree with any of this.
=/ I'm not sure if my opinions will change.
I'll be sure to research more about him,
although I'm avoiding any major news corp.
I'll try other websites (not the TV) and see
if I can find more discussions on something
other than what I've been hearing.

Also, I'm not saying the election is the same
as all the other ones, it does have significance
because of how many lives it's happening to
change and such, I just don't see that as a
person he is any different from the previous
presidents. (excluding skin color)

If that's how it works in America, then it's all wrong.
These kinds of topics stress me out to much.

Maybe it's a southern thing?

The idea of having one person that everybody depends on isn't very comforting.
And yes, I know about the Supreme court and checks and balances and everything.
All they care about is what the president is going to do for our country next.
And if their goals are horrible and nobody actually focused on that in the first place,
then we're kind of screwed.

Oooh I see. Idk where I got Muslim from 0_0

Nice little quote, I get the first two, but how is Obama running going to make children fly?

I'm kind of curious, what kind of change is he bringing? I'm not so sure if my sources
are correct ( a magazine comparing and contrasting Obama and McCain)

I wasn't born here ether, but I have lived in America for a few years now, but it concerns me since i'm here.

I think he has done a really good job, even before he was sworn in.

The history is significant - there's no way can ignore it. Kids, talk to your parents sometime about segregation.

If you listen, the media is actually talking about his policies just as much as the historical significance; maybe even more.

It's a southern thing to focus on the historical significance? Open your eyes for a moment. And when you get a chance, look up the headquarters of MSNBC and CNN

Maybe it is...probably

and since we're stuck w/ them for the next four years (unless impeached which is unlikely) then, we're gonna go boom and soon enough, we'll lose all the things we've accomplished

One person can be the catalist of change, with his decitions, and his ability to inspire, he can move people to get out and do wat is needed, for good or for wrong,Mahatma Ghandy was one person, even Napoleon and Hitler were one person too.

NOTE: he is trying to unite the country in orther to clean the mess that was left for him.

The quote is supposed to be a progression (standing to walking to running to flying) of inspirational people that were inspired by others to do great things.

I think you have to remember that the South has been dominantly Republican since the end of the Civil War. Obama= Democrat, so if you are reading it from a Southern magazine you might not be getting the whole story. I suggest going online and researching from major national news corporations.

And what is it we are going to lose that we have accomplished?

Ooooh, okay I get it now. At first I was like *raises eyebrow*
and now it makes sense.

That's probably true.
Though I'm not republican or democrat or reading media anymore.
If it was like religions, my family would be non-denominational. =D
We're leaning more towards anarchist, so that's probably why this
discussion has been drawn out for so long.

Anyways, I've spent enough time on this thread.
I've said all I needed to, and I will continue to read other respones,
but I will no longer post here, seeing it will only give me pimples.

Nothing that we haven't already lost in the last eight years. But we may gain some lost dignity back.

If they were a bad choice and messed up the U.S. what do you think would happen? We certainly wouldn't be throwing flowers into the air and shouting for joy. And I'm not just saying Obama, it could be any president. There could always be the chance that we, as citizens, made a wrong mistake in the voting (well, the people that can vote) and we end up w/ a president that completely detroys everything we've accomplished. Getting our freedom, not as much racism (though it won't ever be completely gone).
For all we know, we could pick a president and he is fine the first four years so, naturally, we choose him again and then he is worse...yeah...confusion >.<
But what I'm sayin gis, we could easily loose our freedom, rights, and everything else we've managed to earn and smooth over all these years if we make a wrong decision

We would end up in the same situation we are in now. War, economic disaster...

Didn't you just give a history for the last eight years?

that is the choice needed to be made every four years, and it is a risk, but if you follow the campaign you will know what he stands for.

Sorry I must comment real quick.

Even though it doesn't seem like our country could get
much worse at the moment, it definitely could. 0_0
Hopefully, if Obama is all he's cracked up to be, he can
get us out of this hole we've dug for ourselves.

I did?? Sorry, I didn't really focus on Bush. He creeped me out.

@zed::but we never know if he/she will follow through w/ what they say. so prett ymuch, we need to go w/ our gut instinct on who we think would be best. Not just whoever gives the best campaign and promises the best things.

@carley::Lets just hope that ends up true...we're in a big enough crater...if Obama screws up, we might make it to the center of the Earth

That is exacly right, but during the campaign most of the information about the candidates is made available, I'm with you in not to youst listen at their words, you have to research the person to make an informed decition for that has to be in your best interest.

But most people dont do that, and base their choice of what they hear...which could lead to an incorrect decision and then our whole economy falling apart

You are right. The exiting president proved that.

The people didn't vote for the economy to fall apart.

You DO need to listen to what the candidates say. If you don't you cannot hold them to the promises they make.

well that is a sad part of it along with people voating for republican or democrats only because they have done it all their lives, however I saw people getting involved (and informed) with the candidates in both sides, if you ask me i think this time you guys have made the right decition.

I still can't vote:(

but I followed it because I got interested