Today is the inauguration day; Bush窶冱 second term starts today.

I watched the inauguration with NBC, one of the United States窶� major networks.

It is really well-organized event. The band were marching the music and singers performed patriotic songs. Mass audience came to see.

Many famous people like John Kerry, former President Clinton, only one African American Senator Obama, California Governor Schwarzenegger, former Secretary of States Powell and so on appeared on the TV. It was so interesting to watch carefully.

According to the report, the security was unusually tight. Air space restriction had been announced more extensive than usual. In addition, I could see the severe security some time from some parts of the TV program. They need tickets to get into and the security check is strict as usual. Bulletproof glass also equipped to the stage. Overall, according to the report, it cost 40 million dollars.

It snowed just 2 inches yesterday in Washington D.C. The weather was fine compared to the four years ago, but it looked really so cold.

Around 12pm EST, Vice President and the President Swearing-in for the second term putting their hands on the Bible. The inaugural address has started.

What was most impressive in his inaugural address was the following words; 窶彳xpansion of the freedom to all the world.窶� We could see his strong desire for the success of the election in Iraq and I think he implied next his target in it, maybe Iran or North Korea. As expected, he emphasized freedom and liberty. Time to time audience applauded. In addition, he declared that the United States will 窶徭eek and support the democracy and end the tyranny of our world.窶� 窶弋here is no justice without freedom. There is no human right without liberty. Liberty will come to those who believe it,窶� he stated confidently. According to him, freedom is an 窶廣merica窶冱 ideal.窶� Then, he pledged that he will 窶徃o forward with confidence for freedom permanent hope of humankind.窶�

While I strongly disagree with his statement, it was a considerably impressive moment.

Speaking of my English skills, I once used the inaugural address for English study for years ago, but I could hardly understand at that time even though it was the written text. I remember I gave up reading it soon. But now I could understand many parts of the speech just listening to it. It is, needless to say, a remarkable great progress. This four or five months窶� experience greatly contributed to the progress.

In the afternoon they had a parade. According to the ABC report, there hundreds of thousands of protesters came and demonstrated their message with signboards. It is almost the same situation as the four years ago. Some said 窶廸o War,窶� the other said 窶廝ush is Guilty.窶� 5 people were arrested. Amazingly, the demonstrators brought hundreds of fake coffins to the Capitol Hill. So far, some 1300 United States窶� soldiers have been killed in Iraq. These coffins show that the clear disapproval for the Iraq war.
However, Bush窶冱 inauguration parade was held without any troubles. In addition, the President Bush got off his limo on the way to the White House and walked for a while. His last inauguration parade was really unusual as the movie Fahrenheit 9/11 pointed out. Many people most of them are protesters were resisting to his inauguration; this traditional walking was cancelled maybe for security reasons.

Even though I don窶冲 have any good expectations for next four years, it was a great ceremony. I have experienced and enjoyed so many political events so far; presidential rallies, Election Day, and today窶冱 Inauguration. All of there were really historical moments. I came to the United States really good timing.