海角大神

Ever wonder why so many people think it would be great to be an American? All I had to do was get on the Washington Metro this morning in Silver Spring, Md., and any lingering doubts just disappeared. It was about 6:15 a.m., and I got on at one of the first stops on the Red Line. It was already rush-hour packed. People were bundled up, smiling, bumping into each other, and joking. It was a like a big adventure that everyone was sharing.

鈥淗appy Inauguration!鈥� someone said.

鈥淵ou, too, you too,鈥� came a chorus from the crowds.

McAllister Hayes was one of them. He鈥檚 originally from Tennessee but now lives in Maryland. He was standing crowded in a corner by the Metro car doors with his wife and daughter. He had all of the usual things to say about this being a historic day for America and the world and an extraordinary moment for African-Americans like him. He works at the Department of Defense, but this is the first time he鈥檚 ever wanted to go to an inauguration.

鈥淭he change that鈥檚 coming about, it just makes me proud,鈥� he says.

When he was a little kid, he did believe he could become president 鈥� just like the clich茅 says. But then he grew up. 鈥淓vents, things that happened, and the way things were, then I realized it probably was not possible,鈥� he says. 鈥淏ut this - this has changed my mind drastically, like it has a lot of people.鈥�

He was smiling. So was Linda Berk. She鈥檚 in the music business in New York City. She came down with enough family to fill three Metro seats full 鈥� cousins, siblings, in-laws from as far away as Canada. One in-law was originally from Palau, a small island in the Pacific. Like everybody else, they were bundled up. They had blankets, fur coats, fanny packs full of food and cameras, plenty of cameras.

鈥淲e鈥檙e going to document this. There鈥檚 just magic in the air. It鈥檚 history, an adventure, and one that I wanted to be able to say I lived through and witnessed,鈥� she says. 鈥淚鈥檓 just so excited about having a president who is a visionary, who鈥檚 compassionate, who鈥檚 intelligent, who is ready to engage the world. There鈥檚 a sense of unity that I鈥檓 happy to see in my lifetime.鈥�

Jessica Donah was standing in the aisle nearby. She was alone on the train, but headed to meet friends on the Mall. She鈥檚 from Plattsburgh, N.Y., but has been living in the D.C. area for two years. She鈥檇 already been to the concert on Sunday and was looking forward to more of what she experienced then.

鈥淭here were just so many people being so nice to each other. I鈥檝e never sensed that before,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 good to see in the city. This is the big change, hopefully, and we need it.鈥�

Bridget Hill Gunn was standing nearby, smiling and listening as Ms. Donah was talking. She brought her 11-year-old daughter, Skye, up from Del Rey Beach, Fla., so they could share today鈥檚 experience. After Obama won Iowa, she says, she was determined to see his election through to the end.

鈥淚t鈥檚 hard to put in words what this means as a mother, as a descendant of slaves, who grew up in the South, whose parents went through segregation,鈥� she says. 鈥淭here鈥檚 still an east side and a west side of town; we鈥檙e still very segregated. My grandmothers and Mom never had the opportunities that I had. And now my child knows she has a responsibility to be engaged in our political system for change. It鈥檚 just powerful. It鈥檚 not just about an election. It鈥檚 about democracy and empowerment.鈥�

As the Metro train pulled into the center of D.C., the train emptied out as fast as it had filled up. People who鈥檇 just met shouted good-byes, helped a man on crutches through the crowded doors, and then the Metro car was quiet. There were only a few stragglers headed somewhere other than the Mall. I was going to our bureau near the White House. David Hoffman was headed home.

He was carrying his tuxedo fresh from a long night at the Virginia Democratic Ball. He was planning on changing clothes and heading out again.

鈥淚 was up pretty late and up pretty early, [and] now I鈥檓 wondering if I will find a place on the Mall when I get there. It鈥檚 already pretty crowded,鈥� he says. Mind you, it wasn鈥檛 7 a.m. yet. Still, he says, he鈥檚 determined to make it back to the Mall by 10 a.m. for the inauguration. 鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 miss it for the world. I lived overseas for many years, and that makes me appreciate this all the more.鈥�

So, any questions left about why it鈥檚 great to be an American? It鈥檚 amazing what one short Metro ride can convey.