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January 27, 2009

Idonije thrilled to attend historic presidential inauguration

LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Navigating his way through an endless sea of people, Israel Idonije probably felt like he was covering a kickoff in a phone booth without a helmet or shoulder pads.

But being at Washington’s National Mall last Tuesday for the inauguration of President Barack Obama is something that the 28-year-old Bears defensive lineman will never forget.

Veteran defensive lineman Israel Idonije registered 28 tackles and 3.5 sacks for the Bears in 2008.

“It was a historical moment,” Idonije said. “I can say I was there in Washington when they swore in the first black president. Any time you can be a part of history, it’s special. It’s something that will be remembered forever.”

Idonije attended a reception hosted by Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, but was unable to make it to an event at the Canadian Embassy because the National Mall was packed with a crowd estimated at over one million people.

Bears teammates Adewale Ogunleye and Tommie Harris also were in Washington for the inauguration.

Although Idonije was born in Nigeria and grew up in Canada, he understood the significance of the event.

“When you look at the history of the American people and how far they’ve come, it’s amazing,” he said.

“Just look at some of the things that were going on 40 or 50 years ago, and now the change that has happened. People who were once thought to be in a certain class and group now have a black president.

“It’s a good thing. It shows the growth of the country. It shows that things are getting better. Believe me. There’s still a lot of work to be done as far as bridging the gap between the [lower class] and [upper class]. There’s got to be a better system as far as helping those people at the bottom. The country still has a long way to go, but it’s taking steps in the right direction.”

At the inauguration festivities, Idonije saw complete strangers who were overcome with jubilation hugging one another. It was a similar scene to the one he witnessed in Chicago’s Grant Park when Obama delivered his acceptance speech after being elected president.

“He’s an impressive individual,” Idonije said of the 44th president of the United States. “If you’ve ever heard him speak, he has the ability to inspire, and that goes a long way. You can hear how genuine he is in his voice, and he believes in what he’s saying. I think that’s why he was able to resonate with so many people.

“In tough times, you need someone to inspire you. You need someone to make you believe, to help you understand that things are going to change, that change is coming. The reality is that things can’t continue to go the way they have been. People have lost everything—their jobs, their homes. They need someone who has the ability to give you a reason to hold on and keep fighting.

Like many others, Idonije is full of hope—but he isn’t expecting miracles.

“It’s not an overnight process,” Idonije said. “If you think he’s just going to step in and change everything, absolutely not. It’s going to take time. He’s got a steep hill to climb and the only way to get to the top is one step at a time. I think he’ll do a great job, but I think as a people we have to be realistic and allow the whole process to do its thing.”