Two tickets to history

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I can see how people would want to scalp tickets for the Super Bowl, the NBA Finals, the World Cup final or even the Wimbeldon Championship. But a presidential inauguration?

I can understand that the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States will be the most memorable and exciting political event in U.S. history, but I do not think it warrants a rabid necessity to be there for the moment. I may come off as indifferent to the significance of this coming Jan. 20, but the fact of the matter is there needs to be a moderating voice for people who may be falling over themselves to get the free tickets to the inauguration.

I will repeat: The tickets are free. This is a public event, and thus it must be offered free to the tax-paying public. However, millions of people have already requested them, and the members of Congress that particular constituents must go to to ask for tickets to the inauguration have been pulling their hair out over the high demand for the tickets and are no longer even taking questions about anything to do with the words “inauguration” and “ticket(s)” in the same sentence.

And for those who may have seen ads or Web sites that say they are selling inauguration event tickets for large amounts of money, I would strongly advise not falling for it. Since these tickets are published and given out for free, it is fraudulent to sell these tickets, especially when there are individuals who counterfeit these tickets and claim to score you access to the Capitol grounds.

Honestly, people will not need to have a ticket to be in the D.C. area, because the tickets are for those who want seats. It would be more wonderful to get to go to other parts of the nation’s capital, seeing the various monuments and avenues that grace the most noticeable city in all of modern democracy. Good luck trying to find a place to eat or sleep, because some people have said that one million may show up on Jan. 20.

In my opinion, I’d find comfort in knowing that the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama can carry across any distance or time barrier that may interfere. When all is said and done, it doesn’t change the fact that this country will still need to figure out a way to get out of the crisis that is running rampant all around America and the world. Obama’s honeymoon with destiny will be short, similar to when FDR celebrated his inauguration with chicken salad and pound cake since it was during the Great Depression.

While Obama may not get much enjoyment for his attaining the highest office in the land, he will enjoy getting the opportunity of his lifetime when he looks out and sees thousands of fellow Americans eager to work as hard as him.