MENA: Reactions to Obama’s Inauguration · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

Today marked an historic moment in United States history as Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th President.  While Arab support of Obama has been waning over the past few months following the selection of his cabinet and his silence over Israel's attacks on Gaza, across the Middle East and North Africa bloggers still have plenty to say.
A Syrian in London shares a timeline of the past few weeks of Israel's attacks, then remarks:
Not since Kennedy, and some say not never, has an American President has had such attention with such high hopes, from around the world resting on his shoulders. In his inauguration speech, President Obama said:
“we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord”
“we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.”
“In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned.”
“we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals”
Dare we grieve the dead?
Dare we hope for the living?
Jar of Juice, a blogger based in Dubai, felt that Obama's speech was a bit lacking:
While I think Obama’s speech was brilliant – he did not flinch when he said “Muslims” but was trying hard to sound genuine when he “thanked” the imbecile of whom we do not speak of after today – I think there was a crucial element missing in this event…
…but I guess Obama won’t lower himself to acknowledge that fool more than the diplomatic gesture in his speech.
Moroccan blogger Laila Lalami, who is a US resident and admits to voting for Obama, is slightly more hopeful, and glad Obama's day has come:
I’m glad that day has come.
Eight years ago, I voted for Ralph Nader because I thought there really wasn’t much of a difference between Democrats and Republicans on the major issues.  But after the debacle in Florida, the Supreme Court decision, and the abysmal presidency that followed, I learned a simple lesson: Not all politicians are equal.  There are some who are so talentless, so impervious to common sense, so lacking in simple compassion that they make a mockery of the office. I suppose I’m too cynical now to expect vast differences in government policy but I am still fired up about this particular change, about Barack Obama, and about the departure of George W. Bush.
Moroccan Obama fans are still actively campaigning for President Obama to give his first foreign speech in Rabat.