Obama in the Sky

Published in La Razon
(Spain) on 21 January 2009
by Jorge Berlanga (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Elizabeth Bravo. Edited by Jessica Tesoriero.
Yesterday two friends of mine called me and said the same thing: “How is it that you are not watching Obama’s ceremony?”. Both had organized and prepared a spread of brownies, pies and different snacks to enjoy during the event, which sparked an interest on the same level, if not greater, as an expensive wedding or the presenting of the Oscars. The truth was that I was shocked with the level of the mass celebration of power that was converted into more or less a Hollywood spectacle.

As far as I can remember, I believe it is the first time that Spain has televised the live inauguration of a United States president. It was like a movie, although the pacing was a bit slow. They should have had Spielberg or one of the other entrancing movie-makers direct the new leader, who has already demonstrated the grand proportions of his political virtues combined with the skills of an actor.

But the parade of more or less unknown personalities, and those who still remain unknown did not cease to be a bore. We had to settle with recognizing some of the faces now and then and ask ourselves if Clinton, squeezed between all those people, took advantage and touched someone’s rear.

Fervor, in style

The rest confirmed the bad taste of American women when it comes time to dress for a gala, even though they all wore brand names, with their fondness of looking like brightly colored cabbage covered in gaudy frills. It’s curious that, given the current flattery of the new leadership, they are aiming to convert Michelle Obama into a top model of elegance, but to me she looks like George Foreman with a wig, and will deliver a devastating slap to the first person that gets in her way.

Barack’s speech, illuminated by the sun, reached even the highest mountain tops. Religion, fervor and faith are again in style. The pedagogy is sand from another beach. Meanwhile, Obama in the sky.


Ayer me llamaron un par de amigas que me vinieron a decir lo mismo: «¿Pero cómo, no estás viendo la ceremonia de Obama?». Ambas se habían organizado un plan de merendola con «brownies», «pies» y snacks diversos para disfrutar del evento, que despertaba un interés al nivel, o aún mayor, que una boda real de alto copete o la entrega de los Oscar. La verdad es que me sorprendió tamaña liturgia del poder convertido en poco menos que un espectáculo de Hollywood. Que yo recuerde, creo que es la primera vez que en España se televisa en directo la toma de posesión de un presidente de Estados Unidos. Todo un peliculón, aunque de ritmo un poco lento. Le tenían que haber encargado la producción a Spielberg o a alguno de los muchos cineastas embelesados con el nuevo líder, que ya ha demostrado sobradamente su capacidad para combinar sus virtudes de político con las de actor. Pero el desfile de personalidades más o menos desconocidas y que nos siguen resultando lejanas no dejaba de ser un tostón. Había que conformarse con reconocer a algunos de vez en cuando y preguntarnos si Clinton, apretujado entre el personal, aprovecharía para tocar algún trasero.

El fervor, de moda
Por lo demás, constatar el mal gusto que tienen las americanas a la hora de vestirse de gala, aunque sea de marca, con su afición a parecer repollos de colorín a base de perifollo pastelero y chillón. Es curioso que, dada la corriente de coba con la que se dora ahora a la nueva jefatura, quieran convertir a Michelle Obama en una especie de top model cumbre de la elegancia, pero a mí me parece una especie de George Foreman con peluca dispuesta a soltar un guantazo demoledor a la primera de cambio.
Da igual, el discurso de Barack iluminado por el sol alcanzó tintes de sermón de la montaña. El mesianismo, el fervor y la fe vuelven a estar de moda. La praxis es harina de otro costal. Entre tanto, Obama en el cielo.
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