Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

By Linda Borg
Journal staff writer

PROVIDENCE -- The fifth-graders at Harry Kizirian Elementary School sat without saying a word during the historic inauguration of a President, who, for the first time, looks a lot like them.

During the ceremony, televised in the library, one child whispered the oath of office as Obama was inaugurated, while another quietly mouthed the words to "The Lord's Prayer." Every child stood to sing the National Anthem, their hands across their hearts.

Obama's presence was everywhere, from the Obama tree in the front hallway to the Obama posters on the wall.

The letters to Obama, which hung from a repurposed Christmas tree, spoke of the hopes and dreams of a new generation, many of them first-generation Americans whose parents came here from the Dominican Republic and Congo, from Liberia and Laos.

"Dear President Obama," Maria Rahim wrote, "I am from Bagdad. Could you stop the war?"

Adrian Paraeades wrote, "I want President Obama to take out all the bad guys in the city."

After the swearing-in ceremony, fifth-graders were asked to share suggestions for Obama's presidency:

"Fix the economy," Chelsea Velasquez aid.

"Stop the gang wars," Johnny Cullen added. "People get shot for nothing."

The list of problems to be solved seemed endless: fix our communities, our schools, our neighborhoods. We need more books, more paper, more teachers.

Asked why Obama was elected, Cheyenne Porter said, "Because everyone believes he can make us better."

 Tags  inauguration Obama Providence Rhode Island

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