The Inaugural chaos
(continued from losing my religion)
The sheer size of the crowds, at the inauguration, was staggering. As they began to move towards the security checkpoints, and to coalesce around other areas where they could waitfor their chance to get it to the viewing areas, the crowds rendered many parts of the complex impassible. They would migrate from place-to-place like a hoarde of army ants, driving bystanders before them like prey animals.
The fortunate part for me was that I managed to elude some of the crowds , thanks to my handy-dandy inaugural identification (all access) which granted me unrestricted access to every part of the ceremony except the inaugural platform on the West Front. This gave me both a chance to get warm and an opportunity to pass, unimpeded, across part of the capitol complex.
The biggest problem, in hindsight, was that there simply wasn’t enough room for all the people who wanted to attend the event. This lead to people attempting to breach security (they were turned back) or to overwhelm it and enter the overflow areas early. I have to give the officers a lot of credit. They stood out in the cold all day long, and were polite, professional, and understanding-even when they didn’t have to be so.
The other problem was that people failed to consider the impact of the bitter cold on their health. People with coronary conditions, diabetes, emphysema, and other medical conditions, were dropping like flies. Also, people with the flu showed up (bad form) and when they began vomiting (sorry for being gross) had to be removed. All things being equal, it’s amazing NO ONE was arrested. (more later)
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