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Rated: · Community Note · Political · #1494129
My ego driven plea to attend the 2009 Inauguration.

Dear President-Elect Barack Obama,

First of all, congratulations on your thrilling victory! I am writing with HOPE that, after reading my story, you will consider offering me tickets for your inauguration.

I first became interested your campaign when I noticed a small, hand painted sign tacked to a telephone poll during the primaries.  It simply read OBAMA with a peace sign.  As time went on, the signs increased. That sign sparked my curiosity.  How do you inspire the youth of America?  For the next several months I read, listened, and watched everything I could find about the issues and principles you believed in.  And then, for the first time in my life, I got involved in a presidential campaign.  It started with a small donated, then moved to donating time at my local Democratic headquarters.  When that wasn't enough, I thought back to the first OBAMA sign and decided to make my own "home grown" OBAMA buttons.  Because I understood the appeal you had with young, first time voters and knew that in order to succeed you would need their support, I decided to focus on them during my button drive.  I borrowed part of a Jimi Hendrix quote "when the power of love overcomes the love of power" and wrapping it around your picture.

I personally passed out buttons in Connecticut, New York, Louisiana, Indiana, Ohio and Georgia.  I mailed buttons to my friends in Pennsylvania, Vermont, New Jersey, California, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii.  They then passed the buttons along to their friends.

At first passing out buttons felt intimidating, but the more smiles and thanks I got the stronger I became.

I passed out buttons as I rode a street car in New Orleans, walked the french quarter and danced at the Voo Doo Festival which is known for attracting a diverse group of people, including college students throughout Louisiana.  It was here I heard Wyclef Jean sing "YES WE CAN" to a cheering crowd, then afterward hand him one of my button.

On a warm autumn day in Indiana, I passed out buttons while cheering on players at the Notre Dame vs Pitt football game, in front of Touchdown Jesus, beneath the Golden Dome, and outside of the Basilica.  I passed buttons to hundreds of young, bright, mindful students that mingled throughout the campus.  Later, I drove deep into the farm land, down a long dirt road highlighted with corn field, and stood beside a tethered wooden OBAMA sign offering buttons to anyone who happened to drive by.

But perhaps the most memorable for me was standing on a street corner, outside of Grand Central Station on the eve of the election, with my 7 year old grandson Jackson; listening to him chant "OBAMA, get your OBAMA BUTTONS."  This, this is our HOPE.  Our hope lies in the youth of America and you have ignited and engaged our youth.  I have never felt more proud, more hopeful, more alive!

I have so many meaningful stories to tell and have taken many pictures along the way; my favorite being a picture of Senator Inouye, wearing my button and flashing the shaka sign during a democratic rally in Hawaii.  From that first ‘Obama – Peace’ hand painted sign, to the picture of Senator Inouye standing proudly in his homeland of Hawaii - a state that embodies the true spirit of peace; the message of hope and change has come full circle.

Because creating brings me great joy, I plan on compiling my stories and pictures into a book which I would like to forward onto you and your beautiful family.  I would love to include pictures from my personal encounters during the inauguration.

Thank you for listening, for dedicating your time and talent to the campaign, and for your public service to our country.


Best Regards,



Shannon Kennedy


"We have a Hawaiian president!" announces 7 year old Jackson when hearing about the Obama victory


“Rosa sat so that Martin could stand so that Barack could lead so that our children can fly” author unknown


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