The Inauguration: Watching from Rome

Last night, millions (even billions?) watched as Barack Obama became the forty-fourth President of the United States. The Pantheon Institute students, as well as a dozen or so friends, crowded into the common room of the fourth floor dorm. A projector, a borrowed laptop, some iPod speakers, and a little techno-savvy on the part of the students got the picture projected on the sixteenth-century wall just in time for the oath of office. Many (though not all) the students had voted for Obama, but even if their votes had not been unanimous, their applause was when Mr.Obama put down his hand, and was President Obama.
There were some glitches in our streaming connection during the inaugural address, though luckily Reverend Lowry’s benediction came through just fine. Try translating “…and the red man can get ahead, man,” into Italian (we tried!). But despite the blips and burbles of the internet, we got the gist, and everyone present – Americans and Italians – seemed to be hopeful that a new era was starting. America had decided to return to its status as friend to the world, partner in global dealings, and we were all proud to be, in some small, representatives abroad.

Photo courtesy Aaron Fisher.