Let’s face it: 1.8 million people cover a lot of territory, which means all of those crowd photos by all of those pilgrims can each only hold about as many people as you’ll see at a mediocre high school football game. With no stadium walls to concentrate the cheers, the crowd’s response to the president was probably best heard from somewhere in space.
President Obama gave a fine speech, of course – a solid 7.8 on the Obama Speechifying Scale. But the sheer size of the congregation, combined with the sub-zero temperatures and multi-hour commutes, actually worked against any monumental demonstrations of fervor. Chanting was sporadic, localized and short-lived. No one started a wave. Most people clearly felt they’d done their part just by Being There. And as soon as the president stopped speaking, the people began to disperse.
Which is a shame, because the best part was saved for last. Public prayers are often sterile things. The inauguration’s invocation, for instance, was a tortured attempt at ecumenism by mega-pastor Rick Warren. But the benediction was sublime. Dr. Joseph Lowery, who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., spoke in a voice that was comfortably conversational – seemingly at peace with himself and G-d. He made no concessions to political correctness or pomp and circumstance. His good natured plea for “white (to) embrace what is right” later incited the gun stockpilers back home to begin sentences with ridiculous phrases like, “I’ve never been racist but…” and I don’t think Dr. Lowery cared. Nor should he. It was a marvelous prayer that had even the most uptight downright do-right stiff upper lip Protestants joining in the choruses of “Amen” in the end. Here it is, in its entirety:
“God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, thou who has brought us thus far along the way, thou who has by thy might led us into the light, keep us forever in the path, we pray, lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met thee, lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget thee. Shadowed beneath thy hand may we forever stand -- true to thee, O God, and true to our native land.
“We truly give thanks for the glorious experience we've shared this day. We pray now, O Lord, for your blessing upon thy servant, Barack Obama, the 44th president of these United States, his family and his administration. He has come to this high office at a low moment in the national and, indeed, the global fiscal climate. But because we know you got the whole world in your hand, we pray for not only our nation, but for the community of nations. Our faith does not shrink, though pressed by the flood of mortal ills.
“For we know that, Lord, you're able and you're willing to work through faithful leadership to restore stability, mend our brokenness, heal our wounds and deliver us from the exploitation of the poor or the least of these and from favoritism toward the rich, the elite of these.
“We thank you for the empowering of thy servant, our 44th president, to inspire our nation to believe that, yes, we can work together to achieve a more perfect union. And while we have sown the seeds of greed -- the wind of greed and corruption, and even as we reap the whirlwind of social and economic disruption, we seek forgiveness and we come in a spirit of unity and solidarity to commit our support to our president by our willingness to make sacrifices, to respect your creation, to turn to each other and not on each other.
“And now, Lord, in the complex arena of human relations, help us to make choices on the side of love, not hate; on the side of inclusion, not exclusion; tolerance, not intolerance.
“And as we leave this mountaintop, help us to hold on to the spirit of fellowship and the oneness of our family. Let us take that power back to our homes, our workplaces, our churches, our temples, our mosques, or wherever we seek your will.
“Bless President Barack, First Lady Michelle. Look over our little, angelic Sasha and Malia.
“We go now to walk together, children, pledging that we won't get weary in the difficult days ahead. We know you will not leave us alone, with your hands of power and your heart of love.
“Help us then, now, Lord, to work for that day when nation shall not lift up sword against nation, when tanks will be beaten into tractors, when every man and every woman shall sit under his or her own vine and fig tree, and none shall be afraid; when justice will roll down like waters and righteousness as a mighty stream.
“Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get back, when brown can stick around -- (laughter) -- when yellow will be mellow -- (laughter) -- when the red man can get ahead, man -- (laughter) -- and when white will embrace what is right.
“Let all those who do justice and love mercy say amen.”
AUDIENCE (tentatively): Amen!
REV. LOWERY: “Say amen –“
AUDIENCE (louder): Amen!
REV. LOWERY: “-- and amen.”
AUDIENCE (louder and smiling): Amen! (Cheers, applause.)
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