A historic day for America

January 20th, 2009

Today is a historic day for America as the first ever African-American president is sworn in.

Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th president of the United States of America and is the fourth ever youngest president at 47 years of age. Some two million people are expected to pack into Washington’s National Mall to witness Barack Obama take the presidential oath.

The BBC are reporting that there is a huge sense of excitement with people breaking out in cheers. Barack Obama will repeat the oath of office whilst placing his hand on the very bible that was used in 1861 when Abraham Lincoln was sworn in. He will promise to

Barack Obama will make a 20 minute inaugural speech as the new President and it is anticipated in The Telegraph that he will “urge American individuals and businesses to take responsibility for their actions”. His aides said the address would stress twin themes of “responsibility and accountability”.

He enters his presidency at a difficult time with the economy in crisis and there are wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and the conflict between Israel and Palestine. According to the New York Times, poll ratings show that 79% of people are optimistic about the next four years. Can America’s first African-American president live up to these high expectations? I for one hope that he can.

Entry Filed under: politics