Scenes From the Barack Obama Inauguration—On the Metro
By Robert Schlesinger, Thomas Jefferson Street blog
Forewarned about how hard it would be to get into Washington, D.C., this morning (I live in Alexandria, Va., across the Potomac from the city), I arrive at the Braddock Road Metro Station at around 6:15, immediately getting on a train. The crowd is not rush-hour level, yet, but was still more than one would expect at this hour on a typical morning. It is ordinarily an 18-minute ride to Foggy Bottom, in D.C.
I think I might have layered too much, one passenger tells his traveling companions. The train pauses at the Ronald Reagan National Airport stop and the conductor announces over the loudspeaker that we'll be pausing until he gets the all-clear to move—there's a backup ahead.
Too-Layered Guy moves over to the open Metro door, grateful for the cold wind blowing in, and enjoys it for a few seconds. Once again we are waiting to get permission to move out of the D.C. backup, the conductor announces. Meanwhile, I'm going to close these doors so we don't freeze. Too-Layered Guy laughs as he moves away from the now-closed doors. He can't catch a break.
Another passenger, wearing glasses, a black sweatshirt with an American flag, black knit cap with "Obama inauguration" on it and cowboy boots under his khakis, sits with two large suitcases. He doesn't get off at the airport stop, spurring a post-9/11 "hmmmmm" from me. After five minutes at the airport, we're off again.
Another long delay at the Pentagon Metro stop as people, over-bundled and excited, start to get a bit weird. A woman sitting near me starts to survey the rest of the train through binoculars.
More delays. The latest is on the above-ground track between the Pentagon and Arlington Cemetery, the landscape barely visible in the dim light of pre-dawn. The track is on an incline, making standing uncomfortable.
After National Cemetery we slow make our way to and through the Rosslyn station. "The next station is Foggy Bottom, your first stop in Washington, D.C.," the conductor tells the now-packed train. "We gettin' there." There is much laughter.
We arrive at Foggy Bottom at 7:15 a.m. and the conductor encourages the passengers to walk from here. I'm not saying it's a short walk, he says, but it's a nice walk. There is much laughter.
I do get off here, heading not to the Mall but to U.S. News's Georgetown office. I am fighting a tide of humanity: Virtually everyone else on the streets is walking east, toward the Mall and the Obama era.
I pass a homeless person wrapped in a thin blanket against the biting cold. I have the audacity to ask for change! he announces to passers-by. In Washington, D.C., even the homeless have talking points.
- Read more by Robert Schlesinger.
- Read more from the Thomas Jefferson Street blog.
- Read more about the Inauguration.
Tags: Inauguration | transportation | Washington, DC
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OBAMA
Something has already changed Angela from WV. Have you not noticed the mood in DC. The fact that he immediately f=got down to business the day after taking office. That he already is trying to close Guantanamo Bay. That he is already trying to pass the stimulus package he campaigned about. This administration did not begin with secrecy like the other one did. Its open and welcoming. That to me is already CHANGE....
Inauguration Day on the Metro
On Inauguration Day, at approximately 8:30 am, I took the "DC Metro" at the Eisenhower station (in Alexandria) with the expectations of making by way to see this event at the National Mall by way of my Metro destination point "L'Enfant Plaza". After a few stops from the Eisenhower station, a multitude of people filled the compartments of the train and many, with the same expectations as I, patiently awaited to get off at "L'Enfant Plaza". Upon the arrival of our destination stop, the conductor announced that the train could not stop due to the mass of people in the station. (Okay, understandably, it became a safety issue) However, the next stop that people could exit was at the Chinatown station as voiced by the Conductor. Then people (specifically from other areas of the country, as myself) were uncertain how to get to the National Mall without aimlessly asking bus drivers, police officers or other people who were more familiar with the DC area. I became somewhat anxious, as I was told that I had to walk a number of blocks to hopefully get to the National Mall. I even took a bus to North Capitol Street, upon the advice of a bus driver. Upon my arrival to the area of North Capitol Street, I made a steadfast attempt to get to the National Mall, I was then told by an officer there were no longer any entries into the National Mall areas (at approximately 9:45am). My heart dropped and I did not know what to do or where to go but back to the hotel in Alexandria to at least get a glimpse of the ceremony on television. Upon returning to the hotel (via Metro), the President had finished his speech. Well, I thought to myself, I probably should have left out earlier today, but I had no idea that the National Mall would be filled to capacity in which folks could not enter into Mall area. One of the reasons I wanted to be a part of this historical event was to represent my deceased father, Henry Young, who was a diligent civil rights activist during the struggle of the Civil Rights Movement and also to represent my deceased son, Antoine, whom I always tried to encouraged that there were no limitations in this country to be whatever you believe you could achieve with hard work and persistence in your belief. So, hopefully my presence in the DC area allowed their spirits to make it through the masses to observe this great achievement of President Obama. Since my return to North Carolina, many people have asked me why did you go and take a risk to travel to DC and spend a moderate sum of money without receiving any real benefits from the event. I thought about their questions for a couple of days, but my only thought was "It's priceless wherever anyone may be standing when you are in the midst of one of the greatest unfolding historical events, as the one on Tuesday, January 20, 2009, in Washington, DC." Godspeed to all who were turned away/detained(for whatever reasons)or unable to actually see the Inauguration ceremony!
barack obama
i think that barack is a wonderful person but
he's NOT God people! this recession will take
years for us to get out of. come on do you really think he's the answer to our prayers?? it's gonna take a lot of time and more of your money to get things right. i doubt barack will
change much in the next few years. our recession is because of
the housing crisis (we all saw this one coming!)the change you can believe in?? yeah right!
don't give him so much praise until something really
changes.
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