The Village Square

Let’s hear it for another peaceful transition of power in this miraculous democracy

In 1800, our second president, Federalist John Adams, ceded leadership of this country to Thomas Jefferson and his Democratic-Republican party.

It was the first peaceful transition of power between two competing parties, a transition without historical precedent.

A couple of hundred years later, ours is now a tradition steeped in the peaceful transition of power. It’s our default mode, our factory setting.

In watching today’s inaugural, it was impossible to not be struck by the presence of every living former president and first lady – both parties – every living former vice president – both parties – and current leaders of every branch of government – both parties. It’s impossible to not be struck with what a difficult exercise it must have been for John McCain, for George Bush. Yet they were there to represent the consent of the governed to the results of this election.

Tomorrow, the conversation of democracy will continue with conviction (and possibly a rude word or two). But today… today is the day we can revel in the inexorable fact that – like the election result or not – we all believe in this democracy.

And that is no small thing.

Add comment January 20th, 2009

America’s Song

Add comment January 20th, 2009

“Let us brave once more the icy currents”

In the year of America’s birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:

America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children’s children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God’s grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

—President Barack Obama, as delivered on the occasion of his inauguration as the 44th President of the United States

Add comment January 20th, 2009