Guantanamo, no more!

Source: The New York Times

Today, BBC reports that "US President Barack Obama has ordered the closure of the Guantanamo Bay prison camp as well as all overseas CIA detention centres for terror suspects.

Signing the orders, Mr Obama said the US would continue to fight terror, but maintain "our values and our ideals".

He also ordered a review of military trials for terror suspects and a ban on harsh interrogation methods."

Check out the full story at BBC and The New York Times.

Proud moment for America.

"The Gate" on 7th St (January 20, 2009)

Does this look like Washington DC? Really?

You may have not seen "this famous gate" in the news. But, hey, this is what Cecille, Tony, and thousands of people have to go through on 7th and D St. to view the inaugural parade.

Here's Cecille and her proud moment.

O-ba-ma! (January 20, 2009)

I was standing, tip-toeing, shivering, squatting, wiggling my toes (Are my toes still down there?), and squeezing myself with 5 other people from 5 different states on a planter with a 3 ft. diameter. Almost seven long, bitter, cold, hours, waiting for the 44th President to pass by on 10th and Penn. "What was it that made me do this crazy thing?" I thought.

That pretty sums up my experience of January 20, 2009.

I met a lot of happy, hopeful, interesting people from everywhere across the states and across the globe. I am moved by their stories on why they came. Two couples from Wilbur, Colorado ("a small town," they said) drove for 27 hours, through blizzards. Wow.

What was it that made me and millions of others brave the cold that day?

Hope.

January 20, 2009, Washington DC

New day at the Mall.

“It’s been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America.”


YESTERDAY, I was one of the reported 1.8 million people who walked, biked, "metrod" and "bused" to downtown DC to witness the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States, President Barack Obama. It was cold (my bones were frozen)! It was crazy (some 1.8 million squeezed in a small portion of the city under tight security). It was a challenging experience. But it was a day I would not want to miss.

You have probably read all the news coverage about it or watched it on TV. But I would like to share with you some personal stories as captured (albeit, inadequately) from my camera phone.

Capturing the mood

It was a cold morning (27 degrees?) at the Mall. Flocks of birds and people from all over were mingling towards the Obelisk, waiting for the sun to come up. There was so much optimism and hope. It reminded me of the festive mood during the "people power's revolution" in Manila in 1986 (although a completely different context).

(I have very little experience in manipulating the layout of pictures in this blog. I can't seem to move them around. I will have to post some more pictures tomorrow.)

“Mr. Obama carries with him the hopes of the planet.”

Source: KAL's cartoon from The Economist, Jan 15th 2009


"A crowd of 2m or more is making its way to Washington, DC, to witness the inauguration of Mr Obama. Billions more will watch it on television. All will do so in a spirit that has been missing for a while—one of optimism. This is not just because a presidency knocked sideways by the events of September 11th 2001, is ending. Next week’s inauguration also bears witness to America’s awesome power of self-renewal. Because he is young, handsome and intelligent, and also because as the child of a Kansan and a Kenyan he reconciles in his own person one of the world’s most hateful divisions, Mr Obama carries with him the hopes of the planet." (The Economist)

Expectations are very high but the burdens are too many for one man to bear. Click here to read the full article in this week's The Economist.

It's my piece of history! says Obama-Mama

This morning, my friend, let’s call her Obama-Mama, is pointing and clicking her blackberry towards her desktop screen. Seriously! She's taking pictures of The Family.

"It's my piece of history! she said.

Well, check out Express’ front page today. What are these guys doing, again? By the way, to all of you who don't do metro, Express is a free paper courtesy of the Washington Post. Every one reads it except yours truly. (But that's another story!)

For now, I am your self-professed Obama-mania blogger. I will keep you posted on the craze that's sweeping town until the 20th.

Yeah, right! Fiscally responsible furnishing

My metro stop, Farragut North

Day after day, on my way to work, I’m visually saturated with ads ranging from “Obama against war” to “Diamond Inauguration 30% Sale (Yes, We can!)” to Ikea's “Change begins at home" and Pepsi's "refresheverything.com".

Big brands like Ikea and Pepsi and political lobby groups are having a field day! It’s Obama all the way. I don’t remember this kind of frenzy when Bush was inaugurated. Back then, it was frustration. Now, it’s fiesta.

Pepsi plans to send “ambassadors” to roam the streets handing out samples and branded badges and scarves bearing various “Obamaisms” like “joy” and “change.”

BrandRepublic.com, a UK-based market leading website for online advertising, marketing, media and PR, runs an article today about how the public's enthusiasm for Barack’s inauguration next Tuesday has attracted several brands to run special campaigns.

Obama-drama

"The world, it seems, is going to descend on the city on January 20, as well it should. The inauguration of Barack Obama, as the country’s 44th president, and its first black one, ought to justify that overused word, historic. "

I’m in the right place at the right time. Except for braving the cold, I can’t find a good excuse not to be there, if I can.

And besides, I love dramatic moments.

In the last few weeks, the District is being spruced up like a grand stage, all set for the unfolding drama. You can smell excitement on K street. You feel the buzz on Penn Ave. The mood is celebratory. It's inauguration countdown everywhere! Mayor Fenty announced that bars will be opened till 4 am on the 20th! Well, that is big news for a city that sleeps at 10 pm.

Yesterday, during lunch break, I walked around the White House and took these pictures. Abby sent me the picture of the blockage of LaFayette park. (Thanks, Abby!) As you can see, it's close to show time!