Millions of American hearts will swell with pride this morning as Barack Obama places his hand on the Lincoln Bible, recites an oath and becomes the 44th president of the United States, the first of African ancestry. How far the greatest nation on Earth has come.
Amid such significance, and the grave challenges facing Obama, one important point of national pride could be overlooked: the peaceful, orderly transition of power that has been a hallmark of the United States since George Washington was sworn in as our first president 220 years ago. Through great wars — including a civil war — economic hardship, government scandal and political strife, our democracy has persevered, probably beyond the Founders’ wildest dreams.
Today we celebrate its resilience, as an administration that was so roundly criticized by the incoming one willingly yields to it. That remarkable act is easily taken for granted, but shouldn’t be. Millions of brave Americans have given life and limb to ensure it, and thus our freedom. If ever there was a day to offer our children a civics lesson that just might stick, this is it.
The amount of goodwill that greets this new president is substantial, as it was for Franklin Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan, who also took office in troubled times. So far, Obama has shown a desire to solidify that support by living up to his own campaign rhetoric, seeking input from conservatives about how to revive our ailing economy, and inviting clergy with differing viewpoints on controversial issues to participate in today’s ceremonies. Such inclusion has been missing for too long.
This historic day must mark not only the clearing of a centuries-old racial hurdle, but a renewed commitment to shared responsibility for our nation’s well-being. Our Constitution didn’t simply appear; it was conceived in the wisdom and blood of dedicated and visionary Americans, as it has been protected ever since. The principles and mechanisms it embodies must never be taken for granted.
Such as the remarkable transition of power we witness today.
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