2008 Presidential Inauguration
I didn't expect to see the inauguration live, but I did--a lucky coincidence of class scheduling. I was struck by Barack Obama's inclusion of "non-believers" in his list of American faiths; it was an ironic moment in a ceremony of barely veiled religious pageantry. The "invocation" (aka prayer) by Rick Warren, "So help me God" in both Congressional and Presidential oaths, the noticeable shortening of Obama's middle name (Hussein) to simply "H." for fear of alluding to the oh-so-hated Islam--America is still a Christian nation, just as it was until today a white nation. I don't think I will ever live to see an openly atheist or agnostic President take the Oath of Office. I have been honored to witness the inauguration of the first President of color, and I have hope that the first female President is not far behind. But a non-Christian, an atheist President? That is still a pipe dream. Religion is too important to the everyday American. I can only leave it for the next generation to hope.