I love Reverend Lowery. Best closing of a prayer I have ever heard.

[AlinPA]

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. Heh - I'm atheist, and I liked it

It was upbeat - gets people chuckling, and talking to their neighbours about it.

[DangerousRhythm]

6. Same here...

Maybe it's just more my taste but his benediction "spoke" to me, especially with the humor at the end. The other one at the beginning really didn't at all, but the less said about that, the better I think! :D

I REALLY loved that line at the end. :)

[alwysdrunk]

2. Can the Red Man get ahead man?

That shit was classic.

[Cha]

3. I can't wait for

the transcript.

[AlinPA]

5. Here it is.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090120/ap_on_go_pr_wh/inauguration_lowery_text_6

[Cha]

7. Thanks, AlinPA..when this

Parade is over I'm going to watch it and I'm really happy to have the transcript, too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pEH37JIgBU

[Overseas]

4. His benediction brilliantly continued the thrilling river of poetry

that began with the John Williams piece played by multicultural musicians, through the inspiring address of our new Commander in Chief, emphasizing cutting through noisy rhetoric to analyze what works for all of us, as responsible leaders within the global community,

on to Elizabeth Alexander's poem, for the people, that began about cutting through static and brambles, to build a new world motivated by hope and community spirit,

then to Reverend Lowrey, with joy and compassionate humor, he expressed our aspirations, awareness of our limitations and prior transgressions, still motivated by love to lead our country out of these stormy times. Rev. Lowrey even wove in a green joke. After a teasing poem acknowledging our continuing struggle to overcome racism and move beyond labeling to the loving positive spirit that unites us.

The musicians, President Obama, Elizabeth Alexander, and Reverend Lowrey, all covered a lot of spiritual territory. They acknowledged mistakes in the immediate past and renewed aspirations from our founding documents, forbears, and spiritual leaders, aimed at unity to overcome our fear and rebuild our nation and reclaim its positive legacy and more effective democratic government.

Each of them incorporated past, present and future. Logic and love and courage.

[Kitty Herder]

8. Loved it.

And I'm not a Christian.

[GentryDixon]

9. Amen.

Edited for punctuation.