Douglas Raybeck, professor of anthropology emeritus, was interviewed for a Syracuse Post-Standard article about people's desire to attend historical events (12/28/08). In "Witness to History," Raybeck explained why millions will likely visit Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20 to attend Barack Obama's inauguration as president. "It's very much a human phenomenon to be part of something larger than oneself, to experience the emotion of group accord," Raybeck noted.
He said Obama's inauguration "is an historic event. And to some extent, everybody who goes is contributing to it, in the sense that just imagine how uninteresting it would be if there were no one there but the candidate. There's a degree of participation, albeit much more passive than the principals, but nonetheless fairly vital."
He said Obama's inauguration "is an historic event. And to some extent, everybody who goes is contributing to it, in the sense that just imagine how uninteresting it would be if there were no one there but the candidate. There's a degree of participation, albeit much more passive than the principals, but nonetheless fairly vital."
