He conquered fear, and he conquered hate

Race relations have made giant strides in my lifetime. That much was clear when Barack Obama referred in his presidential inaugural speech to how "a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath."

Not much more than 30 years ago it still took quite savage satire to make us face up to our prejudices in Blazing Saddles. This is Mel Brooks and Richard Pryor's inauguration ceremony, where the new man in charge is welcomed by the good townsfolk.

No longer relevant? Perhaps not, although they did have white beans in the inaugural dinner. I wonder if that was what upset Teddy Kennedy? Or was it those salty Chappaquiddick clams?

You have to hand it to Brooks and Pryor, they knew an eloquent speech when they heard one.

Original observations? Not at all. Someone else got there first with this compilation on the US presidential election campaign.