… arranged it so that just after Elizabeth Alexander recited her verse, Joseph Lowery recited his?
It’s a lesson, if you want to learn it. A graphic lesson, in art and oratory.
… arranged it so that just after Elizabeth Alexander recited her verse, Joseph Lowery recited his?
It’s a lesson, if you want to learn it. A graphic lesson, in art and oratory.
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January 20th, 2009 at 1:49PM
Amen.
January 20th, 2009 at 4:15PM
Ditto.
January 21st, 2009 at 10:46AM
Please elaborate, for those like me who don’t know what to look for.
My impressions: Rev. Warren’s invocation was formulaic, the President’s speech the 40th degree of platitude with plenty of latitude, at the 30th minute of longitude, Ms Alexander’s poem soporific (I was wondering if somebody took a wrong turn at a culture-studies seminar), and Rev. Lowery’s benediction summoning the ancient echoes, although it came off as anachronistic.
January 21st, 2009 at 12:48PM
Remember what happened when Frost was to read a poem at JFK’s inaugural? As I recall the sun prevented him from seeing his written poem and so he recited the Gift Outright from memory. Great art is difficult to pull off in a football stadium like atmosphere. Same goes for Yo-Yo, Itzak and the poor piano player wearing cut out gloves. The good strong voices of people like La Kid and an electrified Springsteen are more appropriate.
Those of us old enough to remember Joseph Lowery were amazed that he is still alive and pleased that he was still able to do the stem winder. If you are of a certain age, it did not come across as anachronistic. And we all said "Amen" at the local hippy eatery where I saw the festivities.