Historic days such as this must give us pause for thought; even as Canadians, it’s impossible to resist being swept up in the grandeur of such a momentous occasion. Indeed, as Barack Obama takes the oath of office today, irony and irreverence take a backseat to profundity and earnestness.

But while we’re genuflecting in a southerly direction, what better way to commemorate this extraordinary moment in time than to consider Obama’s forebears? Today, we take a few minutes to remember “the other 43”. 

Load have mercy.