On Wednesday the day after the presidential inauguration I flew home to Maine from Phoenix. I changed planes at Dulles in Washington, DC. The atmosphere in the airport was cosmic. Calm, happy. The inauguration energy permeated the place as I observed groups of travelers just blissed out from their experience on January 20th. I was blissed out from my time in Tucson and Phoenix. Dulles doesn't usually feel this good!
I had to take a shuttle to the terminal to catch the Portland plane. I sat down, and who do I see sitting across from me but Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Wow.
The Archbishop had given the keynote address at a Martin Luther King Day celebration on Monday. He was elated by Obama's presidency and what it means for America and the world. He pinched his own cheek and said "I keep pinching myself to make sure it is real!" What a joy to be in his presence.
I sat beside him for a moment, and greeted him, thanking him, and someone snapped our photograph.
The experience deepened my understanding of what this election represents. As a white girl grown up in the South, I was a witness from the other side of the Civil Rights movement. As an adult, I discover I am almost color blind, accepting as normal and about time we have elected a person of color to the highest office. My black friends are able to share with me their perspective of at last belonging in this nation, with Obama's election. Desmond Tutu, having devoted his life to equality, liberty and dignity of South African people, brings an even deeper understanding of how profound a change Obama's election really is for the United States.
I feel the sweep of history, and the solar brightness of the future in Desmond Tutu's smile.
Wow. That is so cool, Carla. Talk about being in the right place at the right time!
Posted by: Angela | January 29, 2009 at 02:31 PM