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On Tuesday, throngs of Chicagoans wept as they witnessed President-elect Barack Obama exiting his home into bright sunlight and reflexively sneezing in what many called a historic moment for the United States. It was the first time an African- American president-elect had ever been seen sneezing, a deeply powerful symbol hailed as a crucial turning point for a nation borne of slavery.
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell appeared to be overwhelmed with emotion as he discussed the implications of the momentous event. "Earlier today, President-elect Obama involuntarily expelled air through his nasal cavity," said Powell on Tuesday afternoon, choking up slightly as he continued: "He also happens to be black, which makes it a very, very historic occasion." Powell said that, though he did not expect to help the next President combat allergies, he would gladly serve if asked.
President Bush described the occasion as "a dream fulfilled." He added, "No matter how they cast their ballots on Election Day, all Americans can be proud of the remarkable sneeze that happened yesterday." "I know millions of Americans will be overcome with pride at this inspiring moment," he concluded.
Prior to Tuesday, many political analysts had speculated that Obama would probably sneeze at some point, but few were prepared when the unprecedented event actually happened. Said CNN Correspondent Campbell Brown, "This just shows once and for all that America is truly a country where any child, black, white, or otherwise, can grow up to sneeze as the President-elect." She added, "Our nation's nostrils have finally expelled the slavery and prejudice in our collective past."
But some Brunonians were more measured in their praise. "Racism's not going to suddenly end with an electoral landslide and an irritated mucus membrane," said Michelle Cousins '10. "Just because a black president sneezed doesn't mean things have changed. We still have a really, really long way to go."
Nevertheless, in a country where the President-elect could have been owned a mere century and a half ago, the extraordinary occurrence was a cause for jubilation for many.
"When we found out that he had sneezed, we went apeshit," said James Brown '09, president of Brown Students for Barack Obama. "We just marched on the steps of Health Services and kept on shouting, 'Yes We Can! Yes We Can!' For hours. It was fuckin' historic, man."
