Inauguration Day

Here we are then, the 44th President of the U.S.A is fully inaugurated, in office and probably in need of a stiff drink. Of course this election cycle would not be complete without me missing out on some sort of unique election event, in order to run about on stage growling at a bunch of apathetic kids on whom most of our very intelligent humour is wasted. So it was then that I was invited to the river view movie theater, an old art house cinema on the banks of the Mississippi to watch the inauguration ceremony in full with a large group of loud Americans all cheering at this momentous day. Alas I had to refuse as some bright spark in scheduling chose to put Mr Obama's inauguration head to head with the Gruffalo. I did get to see the ceremony and speech, but a trip to enjoy the occasion in full was too much of a squeeze.

The main thing, however, is that the deed is done. It was fascinating watching the pomp and ceremony play out over hours and hours, as Presidents old and new, and nearly every movie star in the world (some burglars are having a field day in LA right now) were trawled out in the east coast cold to celebrate the moment. There is a real sense of huge optimism here that this is a new chapter, a new beginning. He spoke of sacrifice, of the greater good, of surpassing all obstacles by perhaps not always putting yourself first and looking at the bigger picture. My reaction was one I was not expecting, and that was jealousy.

I am jealous of the adventure that this country is about to embark on, of the limitless hope that is now present in a whole nation. It amazes me that one man can do that. I have tried to liken it to something, anything in the UK. Is it similar to when Blair came in? Its difficult now to look back at that day without judging the deeds since, but on that night there was complete hope that we had turned a corner, that brighter days were ahead. The same cannot be said now. Were Cameron to win an election would we feel as Americans do now? No. The difference, and it is not a nice one, is that Barack Obama is a good man, a better man, than any statesman I have observed in recent memory. There is a natural intelligence, thoughtfulness that tells you its all going to be OK. We have nobody like that in the UK, what I have witnessed today makes our politics look dirty, snide and contrived. Here is a guy who doesn't care whether he is left, right, centre, republican, democrat, Christian, Muslim... he just wants the best possible results, regardless of party line, poll results, or sacrifice. If any of our leaders in the UK take anything from this, it should be to ditch the spin, the polls, the lies and attempt to do the right thing. Alas, not likely.

From a very happy America

Alan