Richard Blanco was chosen to read the inauguration poem for Barac Obama. The choice of Richard is very meaningful to me personally as he represents so much of what it means to be American; to live in America. Richard was born in Cuba to working class parents, raised in Spain, and then finally immigrated with his parents to the United States. As such he is a visible reminder that society is evolving inexorably toward acceptance of a greater diversity, toward the ideals enshrined in the Constitution of equality for all. As Obama says in his speech,
“We, the people, declare today that the most evident of truths — that all of us are created equal — is the star that guides us still; just as it guided our forebears through Seneca Falls, and Selma, and Stonewall."
We are still on that journey of course. But choosing Richard to read his poetry is a sure sign that we are still moving in the right direction.
As Richard approaches the podium, he takes a moment to look out. Eventually the camera will show us what he sees, a sea of humanity stretching off into the distance and toward the Washington Monument. This is a moment he will never forget. He stands before America, a humble man born into humble circumstances. A man who was not provided the advantages of money or class to arrive where he stands. Just a simple man who writes beautiful and evocative poetry which has a way of uniting so many diverse people under the same sky. And yes, let us not forget. A gay man!
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