Okay...so who else cried like a baby yesterday?

[Obamarama]

I'm back in school working on my masters degree and so was at school, in between classes. They had the inaugaration on a large screen in several lecture halls. I popped in one and sat down. They had CBS on and they were jumping to shots of cities around the country showing people jammed into theaters, churches, schools watching...waiting. That got a big lump going in my throat.

Then, Aretha Franklin was up. Can't say that I cared for her rendition, but she made me think of Marian Anderson when she sang My Country Tis of Thee on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in a concert organized by Eleanor Roosevelt after the Daughters of the American Revolution refused to allow Anderson, and African American, perform at one of their events. My grandmother attended that concert and I remember her telling me about it many times. That's when my eyes started to water up.

Then, when Michelle stepped forward with the Lincoln inaugural bible and Barack put his hand upon it, the tears just started streaming. They were tears of joy at having endured eight bleak years and finally having the clouds part; at having a president that is worthy of governing; at the thought of what he has ahead of him; and as a white man, I wondered how this moment must feel for African Americans. I can celebrate with them, and I can imagine how profound it must be, but I don't think I can ever truly know.

I was sort of self concious, but then I looked around. There were profs, students, men and women doing the same thing. Several members of our basketball team were seen wiping their eyes.

[TheCowsCameHome]

1. All the RW talking heads, but for a different reason than we did.

[cliffordu]

2. I did. They danced and I bawled like a kid with a new pony.

It took that long for me to REALLY realize that I was actually, finally, truly looking at

The President of the United States of America and our most magnificent First Lady.

Completely blew me up.

[CoffeeCat]

3. I teared up throughout the day...

...but yesterday's tears were nothing compared to the weeping that I did the night
he was elected President.

It may sound strange, but the historical significance did not hit me until CNN announced him
as "President Elect Obama".

I was so focused on getting my country back--from the primary and into the general--nearly 18 months!
Obama represented hope and change, and I was busy volunteering, blogging and writing about how important
it was that we wrestle away control and power from the neocons. I was scared.

Yes, I obviously realized that Barack Obama was an African American and that it was significant
that he would be the first black President. However, I just saw Obama as the guy who could really
save our country, when--for so long--it had seem like all was lost.

So, the night he won, I sat on the couch and I just bawled because it all hit at once--the nightmare
was over, the Dems were in control AND Martin Luther King Junior's dream had been realized. The
joy--and also the grief about the past--were both so crushing. My husband and I both cried for a
long time, both with tears streaming down our faces--unable to speak for at least a half hour.

I'll never forget the inauguration and those sporadic tears throughout the day, but the tears I let
go the night Obama was elected--were more powerful.

[nevergiveup]

4. If you knew the number of folks

with tears yesterday you would be astonished. It was one of the most moving events I have ever watched and I go back to Eisenhower.

[Sal Minella]

10. Same here and I go back to FDR.

[patrice]

5. 2 of my co-workers and I stood and cried, well we were seated, but one by one

we got up and had to approach the TV during the President's speech; that's when we started crying.

I LOVED the crowd shots from around the country. I'll never forget the look on one older woman's face. She sat with her husband just kind of waiting and then she must have seen herself on the monitor and she was delighted; her face was just transformed by being included in this important event, beautiful smile. She was precious!

[justabob]

6. all day long nt

[patrice]

8. Me too. I've been replaying the Air American podcast of the event all day.

It's a pretty good recording. A real treasure: the oaths, the music, the President's speech!!! And the voice of the crowd is completely Thrilling!!

[cordelia]

7. Me

50 year old male here, and cried off and all all day - even though I didn't get to see the Inauguration itself. Picked up snippets here and there until I got home.

Still crying today when I see articles, clips, etc. Always been the sensitive and high-strung type.

I think I need the catharsis after the past 8 years.

[stuntcat]

9. me and my husband both

I cried over and over yesterday. It's the crowd that gets to me, seeing all the people that happy!

[MrSlayer]

11. I cried at the victory speech on election night.

I didn't cry yesterday, I was just happy.

[Catshrink]

12. I lost it when Biden took the oath

Call it catharsis: at that moment, Cheney was gone.

[david13]

13. I didn't

cry like a baby. But I was 'teary eyed' here and there, particularly when Barack said "60 years ago, my father ..."
Even less than 60 years ago.
So this is really a great step forward for our nation.
But it's the man, not the color of his skin. People can judge the character of the man by the way he walks and talks, and his opponent in the election paled by comparison.
dc

[Obamarama]

14. Hey...welcome to DU.

I assume you're a newbie, or maybe you're a lurker who doesn't post much?