More Inaugural Weekend Festivities

So while everyone else was downloading their inauguration pictures from google.com, Suite Suede were on the front lines of some of the official inaugural events. Find video clippings below of the keynote addresses by Doris Kearns Goodwin, author of Team of Rivals..., the #1 New York Times Best Seller. We also heard from, Colin Powell, Desmond Tutu, Erik Weihenmayer, Lisa Ling, and Al Gore. The speeches from each of these individuals were phenomenal and definitely ignited a flame to move forward and become the trail blazer within the field of preventive medicine and public health.
Above is a photo from the opening of Doris Kearn Goodwin's keynote address. She spoke in depth on the Abraham Lincoln Presidency and the methodology behind his cabinet member selection. I sat in awe as I listen to her speak and observed the parallels between Lincoln's methodology and Obama's methodology in electing their cabinet members. It brought a whole new meaning to the phrase "keep your friends close, and your enemies closer." The one revelation that stunned me the most was Lincoln's choice to select William H. Seward to the top position of Secretary of State. Seward was Lincoln's #1 rival at the time of his election and definitely was defiant against the election of Lincoln as American's 16th President. The parallel? Obama's choice to select Hillary Clinton in the top position of his cabinet as Secretary of State. As some of you may recall, Clinton ran a nasty campaign against Obama during their run for the Democratic Nomination for the President of the United States. I highly recommend that those of you interested in the political philosophy of Obama purchase Team of Rivals here and educate yourself!


We also had the opportunity to hear from Lisa Ling. A short video clip of her keynote address is posted above. Some of you may remember Lisa Ling from her brief stint as a co-host on ABC's The View. She currently is working for Oprah, conducting international documentaries on residents of developing nations facing social injustice. She shared her experiences as an international journalist and discussed her "rise" to such a critically acclaimed position. Her efforts to inform global society on humanitarian injustices is a constant reminder than an injustice anywhere is an injustice everywhere.


General Colin Powell also paid us a visit:

Now, I have to be honest with you all, Colin Powell surprised me with his speech. For those of you who've ever heard General Powell speak, you would know that he is very conservative and an avid "stay behind the podium" type of speaker. He was very free and loose during his address. What was more moving is his willingness to open up in pride about his decision to vote for President Obama and how his election as the First Black President of the United States means to him as a black man.

Yes, Colin Powell recognizes he is black! Now, before I get a large number of aggressive emails, I do acknowledge his biracial or mixed race ethnicity. However, I am tired of people, Black and White, colored and non-colored, acting like Obama's half white side discounts the fact that he is black! It's like people forget the historical significance of the one-drop blood rule and the man's societal experiences. As a matter of fact, I think Obama made it a point to make sure society recognizes that he acknowledges he is black. After all, he married a black woman with a curvy figure and badonkadonk; and gave his two children ethnically-biased names: Malia and Natasha (bka Sasha). Let's stop the front.

But yeah, Colin was on point!

Archbishop Desmond Tutu was also in the building:

He spoke on the issue of self esteem and spoke on religion. Very moving indeed.

Oh and how can I forget? Former Vice President Al Gore came by and stopped through. Ya'll already know Al was speaking on his climate change and renewable energy issues. Basically shifting from oil to other sources of energy such as solar, wind, and hydro! I have my reservations about his whole sales pitch on "renewable energy." Now, I'm all for renewable energy, but the idea that the human species are 100% responsible for the climate change shift is an absurd and ridiculous philosophy. However, I digress. Thank you, Mr. Gore!



This inauguration has been such a historical experience! As I stood two blocks from the Capitol lawn, I was moved spiritually and emotionally by the progress that we, as a Nation, have achieved thus far. I stood amongst the crowds of women, children, dads, friends, and family members who flooded the National Mall to celebrate the inauguration of our First Black President. Here are more pictures from this weekend's events: