World as our classroom: witnessing history in Washington
Chris Pepple |
When President Barack Obama was sworn in as the nation’s 44th president on Inauguration Day, a crowd estimated at more than 1 million people watched the ceremony. The crowd erupted in cheers when the Obama family arrived. The energy from the massive crowds had taken over Washington, D.C., as people poured in from around the nation to witness history firsthand. Lipscomb students, administrators and staff members were among the crowds to take advantage of an opportunity to be a part of a moment that will be written about by many generations to come.
| Brittany Officer and Christopher Shappley |
Brittany Officer, a psychology major from Londonderry, New Hampshire, decided at the last minute to head to D.C. and try to catch a glimpse of the festivities. Being very involved in politics both on and off campus, Officer knew that the event that represents the peaceful transfer of power in our nation should not be missed.
“I wanted to go to see and be a part of history. It was such a surreal experience to be around so many people who came together for the same purpose. I felt that we all wanted to prove that we can all come together without arguments beginning and all that stuff that comes with politics. Political parties aside, it feels good to have people talking with one another and discussing why they believe what they believe,” said Officer, who is in her junior year.
“When we were standing there waiting to see Obama, it occurred to me that who you voted for in November didn't matter anymore. It did not matter if you like Obama or not, but what mattered and still matters is whether or not we are all going to step up and change what is happening. It felt so good to be able to attain so much energy from so many people that I have never even met. That is what America is about, and that is why democracy has worked since this country was created.”
Christopher Shappley, a junior who is majoring in journalism and minoring in political science, also took advantage of the opportunity to witness history being made. “I knew there was never going to be an event like this one, and I knew I wanted to be a part of it. Standing in the middle of almost 2 million people was incredible. The positive energy was almost tangible in the air. It was truly a remarkable experience. It gave me a new respect for humanity that so many people could come together for one purpose and nothing went wrong. It was a great day to an American. The event put a lot of material I have learned in school in perspective. I have always studied about this kind of event in history class, but actually witnessing history firsthand taught me things I couldn't learn in a classroom,” said Shappley.
James Brown, manager of advancement events planning and protocol and director of the student alumni association, had an actual inauguration ticket when he traveled to D.C. Having a ticket, however, did not mean that Brown had easy entrance into the events.
“I was caught in the ‘purple tunnel of doom.’ People with purple tickets had lined up in the tunnel normally used by senators to drive in to work. I stood in line from 5:30 that morning until 10:45. Then I realized I was going to miss what I came for if I waited there. I went outside and realized there weren’t many options about where to go. I was with friends from Senator Bob Corker’s office. When I got to D.C., I had met with Grant Mullins (’06) who works as a staff assistant with Senator Corker. I went to the inauguration with people from Bob Corker’s office. We decided to try to go back to the Senator’s office and watch from there. Along the way, we managed to get in another line and finally enter the ticketed area just in time to hear the actual inauguration,” said Brown.
“I don’t have words to explain what being there meant to me. So many emotions were going through me at the time. I traveled to be a part of history. It was indescribable,” added Brown, who attended the Tennessee Ball after the inauguration.
Bennie Harris, vice president for development at Lipscomb, traveled to the inauguration with his family. In his journal about the event, he wrote: “My family and I committed ourselves to participating in what has and is becoming a historic event. Barack Obama became the first African American President of the United States of America.
“I remember when I was third grade in Gunnison, Mississippi. Mrs. Louella Peacock was my teacher. She allowed me to do a book report on Fannie Lou Hamer. Wow! It was an amazing story. To make it even more special, my dad asked me if I wanted to see Mrs. Hamer! Man, I had no idea that she was alive. One Sunday morning, he took me to Ruleville, Miss., to her church, a church of Christ. It was really her. I remember it as if it was yesterday.
“So, heading to the inauguration, I couldn't stop thinking about her. I was going to Washington, D.C. for her...for my dad...for my deceased mother...for my grandmother. Of all those who couldn't be there or who struggled for me to be there but are no longer with us. I couldn't stay at home. I needed to be there to represent them. Fannie Lou Hammer started the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party in 1964. Forty-five years earlier! It was because of her leadership that African Americans received delegate representation in the Democratic National Party.”
| Dr. Bennie Harris and family |
Bria Harris, a seventh grade student at David Lipscomb Campus School, knows that she will never forget the experience of witnessing this inauguration. “My family chose to go because it was a very historic event. My parents knew that this inauguration is something my brothers and I will tell our children about. We headed out to the event around four in the morning. We found a place to stand behind the reflection pool. Everyone around me was very emotional when Barack Obama was announced as the 44th President. I followed the campaign and was so excited to be able to actually see the inauguration,” said Bria Harris.
For a class project, Bria Harris wrote a letter outlining what she hoped to see President Obama accomplish. Her letter was chosen by her teacher to be forwarded to the Tennessean. A portion of her published letter reads: “I am an African-American female in the seventh grade at David Lipscomb Middle School and I was very excited when Senator Barack Obama was elected President of the United States of America. He represents the dreams of so many Americans. It is my dream that in the next four years, our country will unite. I believe it is possible because of what President Obama has accomplished. If we Americans unite, we can do anything. By being elected to President, he has shown that all things are possible. President Obama gives hope to the dreams of kids like me that we will grow up to accomplish many things as great as he did. God bless President Barack Obama and God bless America.”