Obama Presidency

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Alison, Brad, Zack and Judi Schram of West Bloomfield

there with so many people. There were
crowds, long lines, it was cold, roads
were closed, and the congestion was
beyond belief, but in spite of the incon-
venience, people were outgoing, patient,
polite and helpful."
Through it all, the couple says they
witnessed a monumental shift in history
taking place before their eyes.
"I think we're headed in the right
direction now," said Lisa Lis. "I think
what stood out the most for me was the
respect and admiration I have for our

Amanda and Diane Orley of Bloomfield Hills

new president and the optimism I per-
sonally feel for our future!'
Diane Orley of Bloomfield Hills and
her daughter, Amanda, 17, describe a
similar experience. They sat between
actor Tom Hanks and an African
American school principal from Atlanta
as they watched Obama take the oath of
office.
"It was just a dream and it was an
amazing historical moment:' Diane Orley
said. "We broke racial barriers at a time
when our country needed it so badly."

Lisa and Hannan Lis of Farmington Hills

Amanda, a student at Cranbrook in
Bloomfield Hills, says she felt a sense of
patriotism she's never felt before.
"I felt so connected to the thousands
of strangers sitting around me," she
explained. "We were all crying and hug-
ging. I think President Obama has really
made kids aspire to be President again.
The spirit of D.C. was overwhelming and
extremely optimistic!'

Having a Ball
After attending the swearing-in cer-

A Living History Lesson

Robin Schwartz
Special to the Jewish News

Ann Arbor

I

t's one thing to watch a presi-
dential inauguration on televi-
sion; it's an experience like none
other to witness history in person.
Adam Blanck, 22, of Franklin can
always say he was there. The senior,
a business major at the University
of Michigan, traveled to Washington,
D.C., for Barack Obama's inaugura-
tion as a scholar with the University
Presidential Inaugural Conference. The
five-day program (Jan.17-21) included
panel discussions, debates, greetings
from various national figures like for-
mer Vice President Al Gore and former
Secretary of State Colin Powell, and
the chance to learn and interact with
about 5,000 college students from
around the world. To be selected, stu-
dents had to demonstrate leadership
qualities and meet strict academic
requirements.
"The atmosphere in D.C. during the
week was extremely electric," Blanck

Al2

January 29 2009

said. "You could see the ideals Barack
Obama preached during his campaign
come to life."
Blanck was first exposed to the
masses of people in the city when he
attended the "We Are One" opening
concert at the Lincoln Memorial.
"I felt like I was at my generation's
version of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s 'I
Have a Dream Speech,"' he said. "It
was one big national party. Singing
'American Pie' and dancing to
'Shout' with people from California,
Washington, Egypt and England was
one of the most remarkable experi-
ences of my life."
On inauguration day, Blanck woke
up early and walked across the city,
watching the crowd swell around him.
"There were Obama hats, t-shirts,
and pins everywhere," he said. "People
of all races and religions were there
together enjoying the moment."
Blanck describes it as "stirring" to
have been standing right there during
the president's speech. He says he
couldn't stop smiling the entire time.
"When Obama said, 'For we know
that our patchwork heritage is a

emony, listening to the president's
speech, enjoying performances from
world-famous singers and musicians
and watching the inaugural parade,
the Metro Detroiters in the crowd got
all dressed up and ventured out to cel-
ebrate at various inaugural balls.
"We were wearing ball gowns and
Uggs [boots]," said Diane Orley.
She and her daughter attended the
Mid-Atlantic Ball and a bi-partisan din-
ner honoring Vice President Joe Biden.
Different members of the Schram family

•

Adam Blanck of Franklin with Aaron Seidman of West Bloomfield

"You could see the ideals Barack Obama
preached during his campaign come to life."

U-M student Adam Blanck

strength, not a weakness. We are a
nation of Christians and Muslims,
Jews and Hindus — and non-believers,'
those words came to life in the crowd,"
Blanck explained. "The diversity of the

people around me and the common
hope we all felt is why Obama is such
an amazing figure. We all witnessed
history together as one country. It was
quite the moment."