Great expectations follow inaugural coronation
The coronation of Barack Hussein Obama came off exactly as scripted by his media machine – the new president surrounded by friends and relatives, cheered on by adoring fans, and worshipped by embarrassingly-fawning journalists.
Young people across the nation watched the unprecedented spectacle on television, and at least some said it would be a memory they would carry with them the rest of their lives. It just might be. If you think about the current generation, what shared national experiences does it have? Baby boomers remember crowding around TV sets to watch a space shot or that first walk on the moon. Younger adults may remember seeing the Berlin Wall come down. But what shared historical events do today’s teenagers have? About the only significant spot news events they have watched en masse on television were 9/11, shuttle disasters, and the acquittal of O.J. Not much to be proud of as Americans.
It seems odd to already describe a simple inauguration of a rookie president as a life-impacting moment. But for a generation starved for something big to feel a part of, this might be as good as it gets.
Clearly, after seeing the ceremony, pageantry, parade, and late night parties – it appears the best part about becoming president is becoming president. The tough part is actually doing the job, and that is what President Obama must now do. If he doesn’t deliver, the inaugural festivities fade from those teenage memories, the historical event remembered as just another reality TV show.
