History in the Making

Photo by Doug Mills, The New York Times

That's one of those important-sounding phrases that doesn't really mean much, "history in the making." We make history every day. Tomorrow, however, there will be a new chapter in the textbooks, as America inaugurates its first-ever black President, and a man who doesn't have anywhere the same amount of age-baggage as U.S. Presidents usually carry. Almost a Gen-X'er; certainly post-Baby Boomer. The prior Presidents were all much older than I was when they took office, save for the two most recent, who were only slightly so.

Obama is only a few years older than my son.

Part of the festivities included a concert in his honor. Out in the cold on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C., a host of well-known actors and musicians came out to honor the event. HBO showed it to anybody who wanted to watch, no charge, and my wife and I sat and took it in. It was, in a word, stirring.

Rap stars, country singers, rockers, opera singers, and wonder of wonders, when the camera was turned upon the President Elect you saw him smiling, singing along, and actually keeping time with the music.

Is that amazing, or what?