Friday, January 23, 2009

Millions Watch ‘Historic’ Obama Swear-In

The Gym Bar in Phnom Penh Cambodia. Photo posted by KeithAKelly.com on Flickr.

By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Washington
22 January 2009


The historic swear-in of Barack Obama as America’s first black president took place in front of a million witnesses in Washington DC on Tuesday, marking hope and excitement for many.

“This is a historical event, and I am so excited to get the first African-American president,” said Leandra Casson, a professor at Delaware State University. “We know he’s intelligent and qualified, and all the things that we are going through, in terms of the economic situation, we need a man who is intelligent, a man that listens to reason.”

She compared Obama to the civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., calling him “a unifier, not a polarizer, [such as] we had these past eight years.”

“He actually brings groups together,” she said, noting that “all kinds of people” were walking together at the inauguration, singing “God Bless America.”

Michael Lorenzo, an African-American from Pennsylvania, said he hoped Obama would restore the US reputation abroad.

“Through conversation, diplomacy instead of dictatorship,” he said.

Ed Udom, from Kentucky, said he had come to participate in the historic event directly, but he cautioned that Obama had a lot of problems to solve, “among those the economy, health care, education.”

These were among nearly 2 million people who came to the capital, facing harsh weather and temperatures below freezing.

Obama promised the nation he would make the economy move, work with poor nations of the world, and appeal to all Americans to choose hope over fear.

“Starting today,” he said, “we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and begin again the work of remaking America.”

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

While people vote for the winner (Obama), Ah Scam Rainxy always sided with loser (McCaine).

And what happen when you sided with loser?

Anonymous said...

What does Som Archsy and Kem Soakpee-kroy have in common? Use the poor guy Chea Vichea for their political stunt.

If Som Archsy and Kem Soakpee-kroy really want to find the murderer that killed Chea Vichea, they would do everything possible like hire private detector or try their best to look for this invidual merderer. These two scums just use this to publicise for their political gain. Go figure!

11:31 PM

Anonymous said...

We are khmers in and outsite hope that Mr:Barak Obama will do some thing against all dictator Hund Xen and the corrupt CPP!!!!

Anonymous said...

Those Whity who wears T-shirts and claimed they voted Obama were just playing White guilts, fear of being accused of racism by the black.

Anonymous said...

12;25PM. Lol Lol hahaha. Obama cannot help his own native poor land Kenya and how can he cares for Cambodia?

The guy has no executive experiences and now Clinton who supported Youn is back.

Anonymous said...

I can't believe that Ah Pleu KK sold our land to yuon, and now they want refund.

Who are you trying to kid, motherfuckes?