An open letter to the president
President Barack Obama waves goodbye to the Michigan Stadium crowd at the conclusion of the May 1 commencement ceremony at which he gave the keynote address.
Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com
Dear Mr. President,
I just wanted to let you know how cool it was to have you in town today for Michigan’s commencement - despite the brevity of your visit, it was a day I won’t soon forget.
In my 25-year career as a photojournalist, you’re now the fifth president of the United States whom I’ve shot … errr, photographed (note to self: remember to use proper vernacular at all times when referring to the president - e.g. it’s OK to say that you’re going to “shoot” a football game, but never the president).
I guess that means I’m getting old. Actually, you and I are near the same age. Maybe that’s why I like you so much - I can relate. We’re both a pair of 40-somethings from the Midwest with young children. OK, so maybe that’s where the similarities end, but it still feels like we’re cut from the same cloth.
It occurred to me more than once today, that you’re just a flesh and blood human being going through life the very same as everyone else on the planet. Heck, three years ago I could have met you on the street and shook your hand, maybe had lunch and chatted about the White Sox.
Of course, those days are over. Now you’ve got guys 100 feet above me with high-powered binoculars and sniper rifles at the ready, not to mention the countless Secret Service agents in the crowd - some quite obvious, but some, I’ll bet, deeply undercover as college students or parents. Some of the other photographers even looked awfully suspicious … hmmm, I wonder?
I’ve been in this stadium nearly a hundred times now for Michigan football games. A lot of folks around here get goose bumps and nearly pee their pants when they see the Wolverines run out of the tunnel and rush onto the field. That’s never been the case with me - that is, until today, when you emerged from the tunnel.
I gotta say, it really took me by surprise, too. I never expected to feel that way, but I did, and you’re not even a whole team. Maybe it was the lack of sleep (your visit caused us all to be up and ready by 6 a.m. for security checks, but I don’t hold it against you) or maybe it was the “build up” to your actual arrival. Whatever it was, it was one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen.
I knew your itinerary: The White House let everyone in the media know of your arrival and departure times, as well as where we should be and what we should expect, but they never said anything about how we should feel.
At 10:30 a.m., I knew you had arrived, and were probably in the locker room, or a staging area in the tunnel, and without knowing, or expecting it, I started getting excited.
I thought for sure you would be walking onto the stage with Gov. Jennifer Granholm, or U-M President Mary Sue Coleman, or at the very least, a couple of armed escorts. But they walked out alone, and then, almost without warning, there you were, walking out of the tunnel and onto the stage all by yourself, save for the American flag you walked past on your way to your seat.
At that moment I actually got choked up, and I don’t think I could say that if it were any other American president. It’s not that I’m a fierce Democrat. It’s more that I just found myself really liking you as a person when you campaigned for president - and still liking you two years later as you’ve struggled to remain sane in your current job.
I’ll never forget how this campus reacted that November night, 18 months ago, when these very students who sat before you today, spontaneously rushed into the streets and onto The Diag the night you were elected. No cars were flipped over and burned. No windows were smashed. People just ran joyously through the streets, hugging and crying, and screaming out a roar of hope.
And today you were here - their man! The very first president they voted for in their lives. I voted for you, too, as I suspect, did the majority of the 92,000 people sitting in the stadium. It’s the second biggest crowd, apart from your inauguration, that you’ve spoken to - certainly the largest venue. But you didn’t seem nervous at all, in fact, you seem awfully cool. I’m the one that was nervous, and I was 60 yards away, locked into position on my assigned riser.
You were pretty funny, too. It’s nice to have a president who can poke fun at himself. And despite the tough times, as of late, it’s nice to know your message hasn’t changed. You still seem like the very same guy who won me over two years ago on your way to election.
I feel for you as you continue on your journey, and I wish you all the best. We’ll most likely never meet face to face, but I just wanted you to know, that I, and everyone else in that stadium today, feels like we just did.
Thanks Mr. President (or can I call you Barack?), you made my day a memorable one.
Sincerely,
Lon Horwedel Photojournalist and humble constituent
P.S. Nice touch with the Marine One flyover on your departure, I know you didn’t have to do that, but it was super cool!
Comments
MiSola
Mon, May 17, 2010 : 11:46 p.m.
Well, that's comforting. The message to journalists with opposing views is still the same.
mike from saline
Sun, May 16, 2010 : 9:33 p.m.
@ MiSola, Im sure there's a reasonable explanation.
MiSola
Sun, May 16, 2010 : 7:36 p.m.
I would like to know why Mr. Bialek's link under his name NOW ends in a "Error" message. Is the Ann Arbor.com's system malfunctioning for just the one link? It seems curious, because Mr. Bialek posted several effusive comments and now has seemed to be "disappeared" from Ann Arbor.com. I have followed his work over the months and it has all been superb. I'm wondering if the effusive comments of Mr. Horwedel and Mr. Bialek's reaction to it has anything to do with his being "disappeared". I personally think both professional journalists were a bit over the top "publicly". But it reminds me of a time in Argentina when it was ok for one side to publicly spout off, but if people of a different view did so, they too "disappeared" I'll be waiting to see if Ann Arbor.com has the courage to allow MY comment to be published, or if they "disapper" me also. If so, they'll read this comment in other forums.
Bill Wilson
Fri, May 14, 2010 : 2:36 p.m.
Couple things: Who the A2 News endorsed as president in the past is a distinction without a difference: it's possible to write a piece on this subject without turning it into the kind of letter you'd see in a teenager's fan magazine. I'm a conservative, but not the knee-jerk type. I often find myself on the side of issues that are in opposition to my fellow conservatives. And there are many more conservatives (and libs, as well) out there that are just like I am. Give us some substance, not junior high level ramblings. I've been reading Lon's pieces for a few months now. I commented once, but held my tongue since. I wanted to give him a chance. But I've come to agree with one of the other posters: maybe Lon needs to concentrate on his photography. His photography is okay, his writing... not so much.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Fri, May 14, 2010 : 2:04 p.m.
@Lon: You wrote: "And on that opinion page, prior to both the 2000 and the 2004 general elections, that "liberal rag" called the Ann Arbor News, that went down in flames thanks to their "left-wing, tree-hugging agendas," and "non-biased-star-struck photographers" endorsed one George W. Bush both times... just so ya know." Don't confuse the people on these discussions with facts!!!!! Good Night and Good Luck
Klayton
Thu, May 13, 2010 : 10:49 p.m.
I agree with Lon...While I have voted Republican more than Democrat, when the President of the United States comes to town, we should all stand up and give him respect--not because we always agree with him, but because of who he represents. He represents the PEOPLE of this great nation...ALL of us. If you cannot understand the importance of being in the same place as a sitting president, then you might want to review your history. We are a FREE nation, ruled by the majority, and protecting the minority. This great ideal nation is represented by our President. So stand up and show some respect for the office he holds.
mike from saline
Thu, May 13, 2010 : 9:24 a.m.
It might be, considering all the love letters to Barack, and Lon. Including yours, David.
David Briegel
Thu, May 13, 2010 : 5:36 a.m.
Is this site eharmony?
mike from saline
Wed, May 12, 2010 : 11:38 a.m.
@bunnyabbot, No! I'm not that adventurous. Besides, I was a "bad breakerupper". That was when I was 15. Before I became the "new age sensitive guy" I am today! It's my philosophy that you can't hold anyone [boy's in particulr] responsible for anything they did [or said] before the age of 21.
bunnyabbot
Wed, May 12, 2010 : 10:07 a.m.
mike, that was cute little story. you going to go look mary up on facebook now? they say it's to blame for 11% of divorces the last few years, people reconnecting with old flames
mike from saline
Wed, May 12, 2010 : 7:53 a.m.
I've only seen 1 President in the flesh, in my life time. It was in the spring of 1964. I was a sophmore at Ann Arbor High School. Lyndon Johnson was the speaker at the UofM commencement ceremony at the Stadium. Johnson had become President the previous November, following the assasination of President Kennedy. It was a beautiful warm spring day. AAHS students who wanted to attend, were exused early. Johnson laid out his plans for his domestic agenda ["Great Society" War on Poverty"], and since I lived close to the Stadium [and both my parents worked], I was able to slip home for some Pre-Presidential Commencement speach, rest and relaxation with one of my school mates, [a cute little brown-eyed girl named Mary]. It was VERY educational.
John Galt
Tue, May 11, 2010 : 9:02 p.m.
I also thought the article was a bit 'over the top' in the fawning department. But, what do you expect? It is Ann Arbor after all...
stunhsif
Tue, May 11, 2010 : 9:01 p.m.
Lon, Your not a liberal and Santa Claus doesn't wear a red suit. Seriously, your letter reminded me of a young boy writing a love letter to country teenage superstar Taylor Swift. And then you wonder why people say what they say. The Ann Arbor News died just like Air America is dying because they cannot get revenues to support their left wing agendas. Virtually every left wing newspaper in the U.S. is on life support while conservative talk radio and print media are doing just fine. Cannot wait till November, when we can says "Thanks Mr. President" for helping reduce his parties influence in our lives!!
mike from saline
Tue, May 11, 2010 : 2:42 p.m.
@a2miguy, I was in that room last Thursday! Meeting lasted about 90 minute's! You could hardly get a word in edgewise. Where were you?
Bill Wilson
Tue, May 11, 2010 : 11:31 a.m.
a2, I'm not so sure. I'd bet Lon would still share his views.
a2miguy
Tue, May 11, 2010 : 11:26 a.m.
The only reason people post such vitriolic responses is because they can. Sometimes, I'd give my right arm to put all these people in a room and then just sit and watch. My guess is that every one of them...err, us... would not have the giblets to come clean. The meeting would last all of 5 minutes. Eveyone would go home, their precious anonymity intact, and seek out the next place to post. What a society we live in.
Bill Wilson
Tue, May 11, 2010 : 11:11 a.m.
Let me begin by addressing one issue that I believe Obama got right and my fellow Conservatives got wrong: the health care bill was long overdue. As someone who actually pays their taxes, I am tired of subsidizing health care via tax breaks and economic incentives (read: real corporate welfare) for others while being locked out myself. You need health care for yourself and your family? Do as I do: pay for it yourselves. Keeps your hands out of my wallet! At the risk of receiving more unwanted e-mail (the last time I was critical of Lon, he took it upon himself to sent me 2 or 3 rambling e-mails attempting to defend his positions), this piece is just another brick in the wall as to the 180 degree turn imposed by the all depends what 'is' means group currently in power. Lately, I feel like Woody Allen did upon waking up in the future in the movie "Sleeper." Remember that scene? Woody wakes up on doctor's table, and the doctors immediately shove a cigarette into his face, telling him "smoke this it's the healthiest thing for your body." From creative writing teachers who cannot write to mistakes in grammar that you'd expect to see from junior high school students, this site has become a living and breathing version of that scene. And the funniest thing of all is that Lon and his cohorts are oblivious to it. If were going to have to endure more pieces like this, can we at least have some substance to the piece? The Tiger Beat comment truly hit the mark. To Lon: maybe the objections to your writing are more akin to the old Seinfeld episode about the comedic dentist than a knock on your actual views: Jerry goes to the dentist and finds out that the guy has converted to the Jewish faith, and then he starts telling Jerry Jewish jokes. Jerry ends up complaining to the priest in the confession box, and the priest says: Oh so youre offended as a Jew, right? And Jerry replies: No, Im offended as a comedian.
David Briegel
Tue, May 11, 2010 : 10:47 a.m.
Lon, now you can clearly see which side is the more civilized. Maybe if our President "cleared brush on his ranch" he would please the less than happy complainers!
mike from saline
Tue, May 11, 2010 : 9:41 a.m.
Lon, Picker's probably right, but I'll accept your explanation, and cease with the snarky comments. My appoligies.
The Picker
Tue, May 11, 2010 : 7:15 a.m.
Lon, I think it was the fawning tone of your letter that made so many gag. More approprate for the celebrity love letters of Tiger Beat magazine.
Lon Horwedel
Tue, May 11, 2010 : 6:35 a.m.
Yikes, write one letter about how cool it was to have the President of the United States come to your town and you open a whole firestorm of comments. That's cool. I guess that's what a democracy is all about. For the record. I'm neither a Democrat, nor a Republican. I'm not a member of the Tea Party, the Green Party... hell, I don't even like to party. I count numerous members of both parties as my friends. I've voted for members of both parties in past elections, including former Mayor Ingrid Sheldon and current Mayor John Hieftje. I'm real good friends with Mark Ouimet too, who, yee gads!... is a Republican! So if you think I'm some brown-nosing liberal who is the scourge of non-biased journalistic coverage and is the sole reason the Ann Arbor News, and other newspapers are going down the drain, all I can say is... really?!!! It's that simple? By the way, the Ann Arbor News, and all other newspapers thrived on something they called the opinion page. And on that opinion page, prior to both the 2000 and the 2004 general elections, that "liberal rag" called the Ann Arbor News, that went down in flames thanks to their "left-wing, tree-hugging agendas," and "non-biased-star-struck photographers" endorsed one George W. Bush both times... just so ya know.
The Picker
Mon, May 10, 2010 : 6:45 p.m.
Pathetic!
G2inA2
Mon, May 10, 2010 : 5:38 p.m.
Folks, this is a REFLECTION. It is not, nor ever will be, NEWS. All of Lon's Reflections are written about photos he has taken or about an experience. I anxiously await ever single Reflection and many have made me laugh, some have made me sad, but I realize each and every one is written from his heart. Way to go, Lon!
vicki honeyman
Mon, May 10, 2010 : 4:47 p.m.
sweet letter lon....my sentiments exactly. and as for the negative comments posted, we are fortunate to live in a country where we can say what we really feel....so i'm gonna say this: GO OBAMA!!!
David Briegel
Mon, May 10, 2010 : 4:23 p.m.
Two and a half more years!! And then Four More!!
Wolverine3660
Mon, May 10, 2010 : 3:58 p.m.
Dont worry Mr David Breigel, folks have realized that voting for Pres Obama was a mistake- and like Pres Carter, he will be a one-termer. So, gloat, and enjoy it while you can.
David Briegel
Mon, May 10, 2010 : 2:02 p.m.
Great letter Lon, They just can't get over the fact that their stale, old canditate was soundly defeated by an honest, meritorious candidate who was victorious and is leading us out of this mess created by the failed policies of the past 30yrs. Those same failed policies are the very reasons the American people gave 53% of their votes to the better man. It didn't even require a vote by the activist (not so)Supreme Court! The apopleptic naysayers can be ignored!
rulieg
Mon, May 10, 2010 : 12:47 p.m.
this guy is a newsman? is he aiming for a job in the Obama administration, as so many "news" people have before him? I can't think of another reason that would explain this embarrassingly sycophantic letter.
5c0++ H4d13y
Mon, May 10, 2010 : 12:43 p.m.
Obama was my state rep back when I lived in Chicago. I've known of him longer than most. I never ran into him around the neighborhood... maybe I did and didn't realize it. Sooner or later people will realize he's just a politician like all the others. Well maybe not everyone.
KarenH
Mon, May 10, 2010 : 11:19 a.m.
Great letter. Even though I have concerns with him dragging his feet on issues that directly affect me, such as ENDA and DADT and DOMA, and even though he may be just a bit TOO collaborative and acquiescing to pressure from the right, and even though I really wanted him to be a progressive president and not a compromising one, I admire and respect President Obama. It was a truly historic day and an inspiring speech. The first President elected after I was of age to vote was Reagan (probably needless to say, I did not vote for him). How satisfying for these graduates that most of them voted for a president they can be proud of.
mike from saline
Mon, May 10, 2010 : 11:10 a.m.
Actionjackson; I took your criticisism to heart! I went back and and re-read Mr. Horwedel's piece, only this time I put an old scratchy recording of Woody Gutheries "This Land is Your Land" on my turntable and played it softly in the background. I was hopeing to get all emotional, and weepy [like I do at the end of the movie "Gease" when Olivia Newton John comes out in that smok'in hot leather outfit, and her and John Travolta sing "Your the One that I want]. But alas, it was not to be. I still couldn't stop laughing
Top Cat
Mon, May 10, 2010 : 10:57 a.m.
Lon should stick to taking pictures.
actionjackson
Mon, May 10, 2010 : 10:41 a.m.
Some of these folks with the negative posts just can't understand what it's like to be real and let their human nature rather than anger and resentment take over in daily living. It's alot easier to feel kindness and pleasure than complain about every little slice of life.
tdw
Mon, May 10, 2010 : 10:40 a.m.
I think I'm going to throw up
beeswing
Mon, May 10, 2010 : 10:25 a.m.
Love the letter, love even more watching the winger's cages rattle, too funny!
antikvetch
Mon, May 10, 2010 : 10:22 a.m.
Errr, I think this type of fan mail is better off sent privately. Publically, it strikes one as rather, um, juvenile?
bunnyabbot
Mon, May 10, 2010 : 10:02 a.m.
blowing sunshine
Mike58
Mon, May 10, 2010 : 10 a.m.
Seems inappropriate for a staff member. More like a fan letter.
nate
Mon, May 10, 2010 : 9:42 a.m.
Gag me. An "open letter" should be substantive, and should at least disagree with something the president did or said. This is just a gushing hunk of fan mail: insert "Miley" in the place of "Mr. President" and would could pass this along to Miss Cyrus.
ann_arbor_guy
Mon, May 10, 2010 : 9:30 a.m.
Nice letter, I couldn't agree more with your sentiments for the day.
mmb
Mon, May 10, 2010 : 8:11 a.m.
Nice work Lon. My sentiments exactly!
mike from saline
Mon, May 10, 2010 : 8 a.m.
Oh my God, someone just shoot me!!!
outdoor6709
Mon, May 10, 2010 : 7:54 a.m.
I think this article pretty much explains why AA News is out of business. A better letter may have been. Dear Mr President, After you jammed an unwanted and more expensive than we were told, health care bill down our throats, You promised a laser light focus on jobs. Instead you have decided cap & trade, a bill that will kill even more Michigan jobs, is more important. You think renewable energy is great, even though Spain's experience was to loose 2.2 jobs for each green energy job created. You said noone who made less than $250,000 would pay more in taxes, however you propose a $50 billion slush funds paid for by banks and therefore by bank customers. You took $1,000,000 from SEIU and almost as much from Golman Sachs in campaign contributions. What did they get in return besides easy access to the White House? When you wanted to villifie Wall Street you asked, "How much money is to much?", while making $5 million yourself last year. You ask for financial reform, but continue to exclude Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from oversite. Is that because Mr. Raines, Ms Gerelic, Mr Mudd and Mr Emanuel who each made small fortunes working for these agencies are Democratics? During times of crisis your appointees cannot be bothered to return from their vacations to work on the crisis. You have played golf 32 times in 2 years, while problems go unsolved and unworked on. Any possibility you will take your responsibilities more seriuosly in the future?
AndMarie
Mon, May 10, 2010 : 6:54 a.m.
Nice.