SOUNDING OFF:

Thirty-three degrees, coats, hats and scarves, 1.2 million people, Latino, Caucasian, African American, artists, actors and actresses, adults and children.

From every corner of America, believers and followers of Barack Hussein Obama gathered to experience the moment in which our 44th president was going to be sworn in. My husband, my 20-month-old son and I watched so many different faces with the same reflection of satisfaction and joy. We all merged to experience a moment of collective consciousness.

The Washington Mall at the Lincoln Memorial had the largest crowd ever in the history of a presidential inauguration. I have only experienced what I experienced today when I had watched that moment where Doctor King gave his “I have a dream” speech.

On this day, African Americans were honored and recognized not by the color of their skin, but by their perseverance, strength and accomplishments.

As a recent citizen and seven-year resident of the U.S., I have never seen such an alive, festive, anticipated celebration. Scientists have talked so much about a “Shifting of the Earth.” The Mayan Prophecies speak of the year 2012 as a new era of “collective consciousness.”

Today, I believe we have experienced both. Bush finally ended his two terms as the worst leader of America. Obama’s confidence in the American people compared to Bush’s failures and disappointments reminds me of the expression “like black and white,” hopes vs. failures, promises vs. actions.

Obama inspired not only his African American race, who can relate to him, but all of us immigrants who believe that America is made of many races and cultures and we all should be recognized and treated equally.

As president Obama said: “Today is a moment that defines the nation’s values of kindness, selflessness and courage; a new era of responsibility with duties to our nation and to the world. A winter of hardship, but when we once more were tested we refused to give up. America is ready to lead once more. America is a friend once more of the world.

Today we all were invited to take responsibility and to be part of a new presidential time — a time where auto industries and banks are asking for bailouts, a time where our economic deficit passes our eight years ago surplus, a time where a young child (the son of a Kenyan immigrant) dreamed once of becoming the highest leader of this country, a time where a child who as a man did not show fear but security, a time where a man for the courage he had to not give up his at times impossible dream.

As Joseph Lowery, a civil rights icon said, “White will embrace what is right.” I hope so. I am embracing Obama. I don’t fear any longer. I, too, have seen the glory.

KARLA PANIAGUA is a Costa Mesa resident.