If You Don't Think it Was a Revolution -- You Were Not There

Never in my wildest, most imaginative dreams did I envision the Washington DC that I saw on Monday and Tuesday. I know Washington. From LBJ and the antiwar sixties through the Carter, Reagan and Bush One administrations, this city rose and fell. But never, even during the love fest sixties, did I see the friendship and "oneness" of the people in this city. Complete strangers of all classes and shades hugged and talked and cried. On Tuesday, the immigrant cab driver taking us away from the mall to a hotel was literally crying with equal measures of joy and astonishment. This was massive change and everyone knew it. The road ahead will be long and uphill but for this one day; we celebrated the victory of our time.

Make no mistake. Tuesday was a revolution. We, the people, came together to make it very clear that this is a revolution. Monday, on Dupont Circle, a "15 foot blow up Bush" actually drew throngs of people throwing shoes at the bobbing and dipping effigy. Tuesday, on the national mall, a huge number of eyes followed the marine helicopter (no longer called Marine One) carting Bush from downtown DC and power, many people raised their arms with hands giving what Time magazine long ago called the "international symbol of derision." Revolutions are not always classy but they certainly seem to be clear.

The failed Bush government, which completely discredited Reagan conservatism, is now in the dustbin of history. People came from all parts of the nation and abroad to celebrate the change. At a Blue Star Families event at Fort Belvoir on Monday evening, I met people who meant a lot to me but who I had known only as electrons. From Texas and California and all over, the Blue Star folks came together. I can only thank them for their incredibly hard work in showing the nation that military families and troops supported President Obama.

People converged just to be there and to show support for the incoming administration. Incredibly, for one of the few times in history, the citizens of Washington DC and the entire metropolitan area joined wholeheartedly in the celebration. Oh yes, this was a revolution as certainly as if we carried pitchforks and torches.

Joy and enthusiasm were everywhere. But I am reassured that mixed with the strong positive feelings was a strong understanding that tough times are ahead. President Obama's call to service and his praise for our troops service made clear that we have a difficult road ahead.

"... Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends -- honesty and hard work, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism -- these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility -- a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task..." President Obama's Inaugural Address

The millions of people filling the Washington DC streets demonstrated that they too gladly seized the responsibilities to ourselves, the nation and the world. Time to get started fulfilling the promise given on Inauguration Day.

Comments

[1will]

And it will be another "Revolution" in 2010 when Obama's policies give the Republicans a majority in the House and Senate.

[Hal Donahue - Huffpost Blogger]

That is a wager that I am willing to take. Near as I can tell the Limbaugh/Hannity branch of the Republican Party is going to make that party an endangered species.

[davism97]

Januardy 20th seems to be pretty strong evidence that our democratic-republic really can last. Our founding fathers would've been proud to witness that.

[Romulus]

Revolution, huh? Did you all forget that 47% voted against Obama?

[Hal Donahue - Huffpost Blogger]

Yes they did but not with enthusiasm. Also, look at the local elections; look a the state elections. Clearly, the tide has turned. Finally check out President Obama's approval and disapproval ratings. The tale is very clear. If we return to "honesty and hard work, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism", then the country will recover stronger than ever. We are a moderate country we do not want the extremism and nastiness of the last, at least (being kind here), eight years of conservative rule.

[sidprejean]

"We reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals"

I could not have said it better. We who have served, are serving, and will serve in the future deserve better than the falied leadership of the last eight years. Hal summed up the pride and hope we feel now that we have national leaders who truly support those in uniform, and do not just treat them as props and tools. Thanks, Hal.

[John Harvey]

I was as happy to see that helicopter take off from the Capital as I was to take off in the one that started my journey home from Vietnam. I never thought I would say that.

I want to see Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, and the rest of the band tried for war crimes. We will some have an empty prison at Guantanamo Bay to put them in. THey could be tried under the regulations they put in place.

[Hal Donahue - Huffpost Blogger]

is there not a saying about revenge being best when cold.....

[jimpwhite]

Aloha Hal and friends ,from Hawaii. Thank you Hal, the Blue Star gathering you described touched my heart. As you know I went from Blue Star to Gold Star parent and this week we had the swearling in cermoney at the state house where I was re-connected with so many friends, families of military and veterans who worked hard during the election cycle. Staying connected is our best ways and means today and a true investment in our nations future .Hal you keep many of us connected, Global Mahalos'

[Hal Donahue - Huffpost Blogger]

I know Jim and words fail. Staying connected is a must in this world and society and thanks for your help, hard work and compliment.

[ninetwelve]

it's the antithesis to my overwhelming anger at the process and our people after the last two elections.

how could the american people choose to elect george bush? how on earth did it happen?

just wait, in 8 years, after obama finishes, there will be some republican twit that divides people by sensibilities again, with immigration or gay rights, and we will be back to square one.

never underestimate the ignorance of people in our country. i'm betting that over half of the people that were on the DC mall crying with joy that obama was elected were the same idiots that were happy with the relection of bush even after his first term.

[Hal Donahue - Huffpost Blogger]

I will take that bet but because I know it to be wrong. You are sounding like a conservative now - blaming others. If we work hard, organize and deliver then we will carry the day. if we go back to sleep, if we fail to build better local communities then your horror story can come to pass. Please work hard to make certain it does not. We lost those elections because we did not give it our all.

[Hal Donahue - Huffpost Blogger]

Folks, regarding failed president Bush and his henchmen I think time will tell. As time passes and more and more comes to light who knows what could happen. My own opinion is that war crimes are possible but very unlikely. But "Crimes against Humanity" is definitely possible because Bush himself admitted that he directly ordered the water boarding of three individuals - that should be enough. In the mean time, let's not lose valuable time chasing a powerless ex-regime. The nation needs immediate attention.

[wlopez62]

Hal
Great post , I always enjoy blog ,
Lets get them at TH and not let them forget we are in this together
We fight the good fight ,for the greater good that is America

[Rog49Thomas]

A revolution results in real fundamental lasting change.

Let's see where the party this week and the Party lead to before we pronounce another 14 July.

[appleknocker]

Absolutely right! The old ruling class is as firmly in place as ever, albeit with a refreshing new and more respectable figurehead. Another comment on this post described 1/20 as a "happening." Donahue seems to confuse that with "revolution."

[Hal Donahue - Huffpost Blogger]

If you were in the streets it was indeed a revolution. Now will it succeed? Only time can tell that. Looking around the country it better

[Rog49Thomas]

Thanks yours.

I fervently hope we are on a different course.

But, this "revolution" is probably more about curbing excesses and incompetence than a fundamental change in direction.

When there is a change in our imperial foreign policy and our domestic corporate socialism that will be a revolution.

It will be good if we no longer torture, but if our imperial foreign policy remains in place
It will be good if we regulate business a bit more, but if at the end of the day we continue to run our economy for the benefit of corporations rather than people ...

There is a difference between 20 Jan 2009 and 14 July 1789..

[Retrofuturistic]

It won't feel like a REAL revolution until Bush and Cheney are either impeached (no statute of limitations on that) or prosecuted.

[Rog49Thomas]

impeachment is the process by which a government official is removed from office

when an individual no longer holds an office he cannot be impeached

an impeachment does not constitute a criminal conviction

in any case RHIP - so no trial for either of these two men

[MarkfromCT]

I was there over the weekend and couldn't agree more...a "happening' in the truest sense. Obama's words, although not up to some folks' rhetorical expectations, nevertheless conveyed a sense of purpose and duty and reality as well as confidence for the way forward--the hallmark of leadership.

[teaINharbor]

I am thrilled also, but, it will all be for naught without holding the war criminals accountable. I believe that a vast majority that were at the mall wants this as well as most of the rest of the world. President Obama must go forward with indictments, unless he made an agreement not to so he could get the nomination-looks like-maybe?