For Chris Richmond, who traveled to the Inauguration from Illinois, change is based in time. Obama, “represents a new generation of leadership for this country” Richmond said. In fact, Richmond’s trip to Washington embodied his personal vision of change—he brought along his fourteen-year-old son so that the two generations could bond over the ground-breaking event. Others took Obama’s slogan less seriously.
Obama-inspired advertisements covered the Washington Metrorail. The ads ranged from Ikea’s “Embrace Change” campaign to Bubbles Salons’ claim that “Change Begins Here”, as if cheap furniture or a new haircut would quickly cure this country’s ills. While the use of his words to make money may seem to cheapen Obama’s achievements, Ralph “Barak” Walker, of California, had no problem with this advertising tactic. He felt that Obama is such a purely good person that anything to do with him, even a silly advertisement, is just as good by association. “The seeds of Obama pop up everywhere”, explained Walker, “some temporary, some everlasting, but it’s good because he is good”.
Obama himself spoke directly of change in his inaugural address. He pointed out that “a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath”. Again, of the United States’ previous “indifference to suffering outside our borders”, Obama stated that “the world has changed, and we must change with it”. In contrast to the “change” written all over Washington, the rest of Obama’s speech focused primarily on things that have remained the same. “Our challenges may be new,” conceded Obama, ”but those values upon which our success depends - hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old”.
The emphasis on the familiar evident in Obama’s address troubled Washington resident Shashi Sherma. To Sherma, true change means that Obama will keep all of his campaign promises. “Another two years down the line they’ll actually let us see the real change”, Sherma predicted.
Only time will tell what, if anything, Obama decides to change in his new role as president, but important changes have already taken place. The election of an African-American president is obviously a significant change in and of itself. In a nation where “change” can unite, inspire, or even sell furniture, almost anything is possible.
Obama-inspired advertisements covered the Washington Metrorail. The ads ranged from Ikea’s “Embrace Change” campaign to Bubbles Salons’ claim that “Change Begins Here”, as if cheap furniture or a new haircut would quickly cure this country’s ills. While the use of his words to make money may seem to cheapen Obama’s achievements, Ralph “Barak” Walker, of California, had no problem with this advertising tactic. He felt that Obama is such a purely good person that anything to do with him, even a silly advertisement, is just as good by association. “The seeds of Obama pop up everywhere”, explained Walker, “some temporary, some everlasting, but it’s good because he is good”.
Obama himself spoke directly of change in his inaugural address. He pointed out that “a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath”. Again, of the United States’ previous “indifference to suffering outside our borders”, Obama stated that “the world has changed, and we must change with it”. In contrast to the “change” written all over Washington, the rest of Obama’s speech focused primarily on things that have remained the same. “Our challenges may be new,” conceded Obama, ”but those values upon which our success depends - hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old”.
The emphasis on the familiar evident in Obama’s address troubled Washington resident Shashi Sherma. To Sherma, true change means that Obama will keep all of his campaign promises. “Another two years down the line they’ll actually let us see the real change”, Sherma predicted.
Only time will tell what, if anything, Obama decides to change in his new role as president, but important changes have already taken place. The election of an African-American president is obviously a significant change in and of itself. In a nation where “change” can unite, inspire, or even sell furniture, almost anything is possible.
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