As I sit and watch the coverage of the inaugural this morning, I am fascinated and amazed and genuinely proud to be an American citizen, as I have been on every inauguration day, whether the man being sworn in was my choice or not. Each time a new administration has been installed, I have been struck at what an amazing process the transition of power is in our country. This time around, there are millions of people on the National Mall, with more people still pouring in. And yet, there is no violence, no fighting, no bitterness amongst the crowd.
The enthusiasm that seems to be emanating from the crowd almost makes the man at the center of it all irrelevant. This is the greatest thing about our democracy, I've always thought. No matter who has won and who has lost, on this day, all Americans watch our government change hands peacefully, and we are allowed to see the outgoing President and the incoming President meet and embrace the future together. That is the message that America sends to our detractors, and the thing that makes us strong. However divided our house may be in private, we can come together for the good of this nation and its people.
I hope that the excitement and enthusiasm of this day will help buoy us up in the months and years to come, when the newness of change has worn away, and the sameness of our problems continue to press down upon us. I hope that in the dark days that are surely to come, the hope of this day will continue to uplift a nation already weary.
The most thought provoking comment I have read about the inauguration of the first president of African-American heritage was the observation that white America may not be as racist as black Americans have always believed. As black Americans see and hear the support of people of all races and backgrounds for a man they thought was theirs alone, I hope it opens the eyes and the hearts and the minds of people on all sides to the possibility that we can get beyond race and color in this nation.
For me, Barack Obama's family is a microcosm of the America I know. His white mother, his black father, his half Asian sister - all are part of the America I love. I hope that his ability to transcend the racial divide will help this nation do the same. His upbringing as a black man in a white family has given him insight that few in positions of power have ever had. I wonder if that is part of his apparent ability and desire to see issues from more than one perspective? Certainly part of the hope I feel this day is that we will be led by someone who isn't afraid to consider that there is another point of view, another solution, an alternative not yet considered.
I give President Bush a great deal of credit for the smooth transition, and his gracious and almost unprecedented cooperation with the incoming administration. I don't think anyone should underestimate the importance of that willingness to open the lines of communication with the man who will supplant him in the Oval Office.
Because of his generosity, Barack Obama's team will be able to go from the swearing in and address to follow straight to the White House to begin their work. There is no hole, no weakness, no confusion on display for the enemies of this nation to exploit. I think that may be George Bush's greatest act as President, and the one that keeps us safest. If he had not been so generous, we would have a government in temporary disarray, and that is something I don't think any of us should want to contemplate.
George Bush will be remembered for many things. But the legacy that is most important to him, I suspect, is the one to which he has dedicated his presidency - the safety of this nation, and its people. For me, the way he has best exemplified this desire is his gracious leave-taking of his post. I have never doubted that he loves this country, and did his best to keep us safe. As he steps off the world stage and into his private life, I wish he and Laura a long and happy post-Presidential life.
I hope that this new day will be the first of many good days to come for this nation and for its people. For all our sakes, I wish that the presidency of Barack Obama will have unprecedented success, because anything else will be disastrous for us all. It is a rare thing to know that you are watching history being made. Today Barack Obama steps into the pages of history, and brings us with him.
