#3: About to board the plane

January 15, 2009

It’s right before noon: David and I are doing our last minute computer stuff here at the gate at Oakland Airport before boarding. We’re wearing our Obama pins. I figured they’d be good conversation starters with other travelers on their way to the Inauguration.

Check back with you later!

Filed under: Inauguration,Politics,Teens — Tags: Barack Obama — Annie @ 12:53 pm

Comments (11)

11 Comments »

Dear Ms. Fox,

Thank you so much for coming to visit our class! I think it’s really great that you’re letting us all know news about the inauguration.

What time does the inauguration take place? Why is it this time?

Comment by Lauren Shepard (DMS) — January 15, 2009 @ 7:15 pm
Hi Lauren,

It was my pleasure to come to your class and I’m going to come back to see you when I return home to tell you about the trip. I found the answer to your question. The Inauguration takes place on Tuesday, January 20. Barack Obama will take the Oath of Office as 44th President of the United States at noon (EST), immediately followed by the Inaugural Address.

The Vice President is sworn in ten minutes earlier.

The U.S. Constitution set Inauguration as March 4th “…to give electors from each state nearly four months after Election Day to cast their ballots for president and to allow for travel in an era of slow transportation.” But in 1933 the 20th amendment to the Constitution was ratified and that changed Inauguration Day to January 20th! Here are some more interesting facts about the history of the Inauguration Ceremony.

Comment by Annie — January 15, 2009 @ 9:30 pm
The first thing I would do if I was inaugurated as president is bring the troops home because then we would not have to pay for war funds and it would release a lot of the tension placed on the economy. Another reason why I would do that is because then more money could go to school funding which is what we need since some schools are starting to shut down and other schools have to use old and out of date textbooks, which would make the students, be behind in their academics. One of the most important reasons of this is also that our troops would stop dying if we brought them back and we would have them where we need them in case there is another terrorist threat.

Comment by Nicholas Proestos — January 16, 2009 @ 10:34 am
Dear Ms. Fox
I think it is great that you get the chance to see the inauguration this year, I hope that you have a great time. Although I couldn’t vote, and all i could do was hope, I was very happy to find out that Barack Obama was going to be the new President of the United States. I have to ask you though, what really made you think about going to this event? Why is it important to you?

Comment by Dillon Pepper — January 16, 2009 @ 10:36 am
Dear Ms. Fox,

even tho i have never met you (jet 🙂 I also wanted to thank you so much for putting up this website and letting us know what is going on over there at washington. myself i am not from here. I am from germany so this will be my first Inauguration of a president. I am already very exited to see everything in the news and it is also a big deal for the people in america that it is going to be the first african american president so i think this is all very exciting. i think that Barack will bring a lot of change for everybody and that it will be better for the whole economy and even the whole world! are you going to the ball? or what events are you going to?

Comment by Ben B — January 16, 2009 @ 10:43 am
I think that middle school students should care about what happens in history because it’s our future. We are the ones who are going to be apart of making decisions in just a few short years. We have the power to be informed citizens of the USA. We should also care because our choices are what the future is all about!

Comment by Zoe Poynor — January 16, 2009 @ 11:40 am
I definitely think that what happens in Washington is important. It is especially important that us students should care about what goes on in washington. This is a very important time in this nation and even us students are part of it. We defiantly should know what’s going on, because this is our country too. Change is coming, and I can feel it. We all need to be part of the change.

Comment by Wynham G. — January 16, 2009 @ 11:52 am
I really think that what having an African American president really says about America as a whole is that we really grow and develop with the time. We grew from an America that had slaves, and considered African Americans as property and nothing better then an animal. However, people in America started to realize that that was not right, and slowly the notion that everyone should be treated equally split the country, and eventually, slavery was disbanded. Things were better, but not great. Black and white people had separate bathrooms, playgrounds, work faculties, and everything else you can think of. Once again, people started to really see that that wasn’t right, and that a nation that prided itself for its openness and equality was not living up to its standards. So people did something about it, and finally people of all races were treated truly equally. And now, people talked about an African American being president, and some people shook their heads and muttered about how insane that was. But people who looked past the skin color and differences and looked at what the two candidates overruled them, and now, on Tuesday, January 20th, we will have an African American President.

Comment by AyaKB — January 16, 2009 @ 12:44 pm
I’ve never been so moved and inspired by a political leader… I just felt like I HAD to be here… to be part of this incredibly unique moment in our nation’s history… a moment of truth and power and LIGHT!

Comment by Annie — January 16, 2009 @ 6:35 pm
Hello ben!

I’m delighted to know that you are following this blog from Germany! How in the world did you hear about it? I saw the reactions online from around the world the night Barack Obama was elected. I saw the faces of millions of joyful people. Here in Washington I am meeting many many very excited and joyful people as well. Tuesday will be a day to remember, I’m sure! And then… we will see the kind of leadership Barack Obama will bring. YAY!

This Cinderella is not going to the ball. :O( But I don’t really mind. It’s so cold here that I really can’t imaging wearing anything except my long underwear, jeans, two pairs of socks, my hiking boots, scarf, gloves, hat, etc. etc. Doesn’t sound much like what anyone would wear to a fancy ball, does it? But I’d rather be warm!

Comment by Annie — January 16, 2009 @ 8:04 pm
I think the election of the first African-American president says about us, as Americans is that we are open for change. Change is big. I personally think having Obama in office will change our country and make it flourish. I think Obama is a strong, loyal, and trusting leader for are country. I wish him the best of luck!

Comment by Valerie — January 16, 2009 @ 8:58 pm