Obama inauguration: Will the ‘H’ word get a mention?

From all parts of America, the Obama pilgrims have been on the move to witness his inauguration on Wednesday.

And like all pilgrimages, it’s not without its hardship.

Clutching their feel-good optimism from warmer climes, they have been jetting and bussing in to face the sober reality of frigid Washington.

On a night flight from LAX, passengers let rip with a roar as the plane left humid Los Angeles twinkling behind them.

But travellers have been weighed down with mundane matters, not just considering the impact of the weather but the demands of security which has seen a number of everyday items banned.

The need to remember to leave the backpack, umbrella and thermos at home is just the start. Travellers are also considering questions such as can we get by without the kid’s stroller? Maybe Ugg boots were a better option than the leathers? How hellish will the Metro journey from Virginia or Philadelphia be? Does a choice have to be made between seeing Obama’s swearing in and getting a good spot to view the subsequent parade?

AdvertisementJudging by the evidence on the ground, Ugg boots are the footwear of choice for a lot of Obama’s army.

For a large number of inauguration-goers, it’s less a mission than a field trip. Teachers, with apparently hawk-like peripheral vision, are a regular sight in DC herding school kids. Their commands seem to consist of “Stop!”, “Wait until we all get there”, “We’re not going that way” and “what did I tell you…”

For the record, the items that are banned along the parade route are: Firearms, ammunition, explosives, aerosols, packages, coolers, thermos flasks, backpacks, big bags, laser pointers, animals other than help dogs and bicycles.

Banned on the Capitol grounds in addition to those prohibited items are: Umbrellas, alcohol, strollers, all signs and posters.

The biggest suspense about the inauguration is whether the “H” word will get an airing.

Today, during a rehearsal outside the Capitol, the ground announcer referred to Barack Obama’s initial rather than his full name.

There are those of the Voldemort school of thought who believe Obama is: “He who must not have his middle name named”.

Representative Steve King of Iowa, a Republican, found Obama’s earlier decision to allow “Hussein” to be used as “bizarre” and a “double standard”, Politico reported. “Is that reserved just for him, not his critics?”

Politico said that King had previously told AP that the middle name was among the reasons Islamic terrorists would rejoice at Obama’s election. King also predicted that al Qaeda would be “dancing in the streets” if Obama were elected.

Obama’s victory and inauguration means a great deal to many African Americans.

A California woman, Tamela, was taking her husband and two toddlers to the event. She helped get out the vote for him - the first work she had done for a political candidate.

Then there was a guy spotted in McDonalds in Los Angeles. Scraps of meat and bun were slowly hardening on his plate, forgotten about as he was glued to a Larry King programme on Obama’s train trip on Saturday. He pointed it out to a passing mate and the two exchanged congratulatory fist bumps with pride in Obama’s achievement lighting their faces.

Obama is having something of a Diana affect on stately DC.

The man’s pictures are everywhere, a radio station has renamed itself Obama FM. The Newseum drew a lot of visitors today to a showcase of special sections and front pages on Obama in US newspapers.