Barb Gustafson

Everyone has to have an Obama story – so here’s mine.  January 20, 2009 will likely be one of those days that pretty much everyone can later tell you “where they were when.”  The inauguration of the first African American president of the United States is historic and rightfully memorable. 

It will be added to those other shared events of North American society:  JFK’s assassination (I’m too young to remember that one); the first steps on the moon (I was at my grandmother’s house with other family members, watching it on a black and white TV); the Challenger space shuttle explosion (in my living room, pregnant and with a toddler running around, upset her program had been interrupted); 9-11 (trying to manage a business through a major change, while staff gravitated to my office around the TV); and now, the inauguration of the 44th president.

Where was I when this happened?  Like millions of others, watching the event happen – not, this time, on a television – but on my computer screen.

I watched the live feed as long as I could before I had to leave for a meeting.  As I walked through the technical college where I work, I noticed a lab where students were working at their stations, while the event played from a computer through the projector onto the screen at the front of the room.  They were a part of it, via CNN.  In the hallway, TV screens regularly show listings of campus event, but that day, they were on CNN, too, and students were gathered around to watch.  Later, in the gym, the TVs in the cardio room were tuned to the replay of the speech. 

Even in the middle of Saskatchewan, Canada, we wanted to be part of this historic event.

This is the first inauguration that was an Internet event.  The last one, of George W. Bush, was carried with a live feed, but the technology was such that it was choppy and unsatisfactory to watch.  Plus, it was George Bush.

This time, technology had improved and interest was high.  Extra strength was added to the cell phone system in Washington, expecting people at the event to be snapping photos, sending instantaneous images and words to their friends.  The news coverage of the inaugural balls showed a sea of cameras held up above the tuxedos and ball gowns, capturing the day. People had access like never before.

During his campaign, Obama showed himself to be a part of the digital age unlike any candidate before him.  Apparently, he has fought to keep his Blackberry (deemed a security risk) now that he’s in office.  Could he cope without instant access, instant messaging?  Who would update his Facebook status? (Barack is … in the House … gittin’ ‘er done with Gitmo … trying to find about a trillion dollars ….)

More seriously, this presidency will be different, if only because the technology is different.  It could be a negative.  The constant glare of cameras and endless blogging will show every imperfection, even more than media have in the past.  Or, it could be positive, bringing people together to share in the running of their country, which is what the new president seems to want.

And here in the middle of Canada, we’ll be watching.  We’ll be envious of the excitement the American people enjoy, because of their new charismatic leader.  We’ll think of those in Ottawa, and wonder “is this the best we’ve got?”  And if or when things go wrong, we’ll be watching that, too, along with the rest of the world.

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