We are Republicans and Democrats. Left and right. Conservative and liberal. Some even moderate.
We don’t always agree, except for one thing.
Inaugurations are a glorious thing.
There are those who would pooh-pooh the pomp and circumstance that occurred in Washington, D.C., yesterday. Don’t hold your breath waiting for me to join that chorus.
I thought it was majestic. And I thought the same thing for the two inaugurations of President George W. Bush. There was not much in terms of policy that I agreed with ‘W’ about. But I still thought it was important to respect him and the office. I still do.
It doesn’t matter who is the inhabitant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. What is important is the chain of events that forge this country, a continuum that we mark every four years when a man (and it’s only a matter of time until it is a woman) places his hand on the Bible and takes the oath of office.
Today, much of the glory of yesterday’s events, witnesses by hundreds of thousands, will fade.
But the meaning behind them will not.
We are the United States of America.
Most days we are a little less united than we’d like.
Eventually, the deadlock and standoffs will return.
That’s why yesterday should be cherished.
Now it’s back to work.
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