A Day in History

I really don't care what your political beliefs are.  I really don't care who received your vote for President.  I really don't care to share anything about my political beliefs except that I always split my ticket and on some issues I am conservative and on some I have liberal views. 

Today was the transfer of power for the highest office in the United States.  Reflecting on the first paragraph of this post, it was historical.  It would have been historical if Hilary Clinton had taken the oath of office.  The point is that today was important to our county.  It was a day rich with tradition, with symbolism, with pomp and circumstance.  It was a day to be respectful of the office of President, to reflect on what it means to be an American, and to look forward to what lies ahead for our county and what we can do to move it forward.

Cooper, Gary, and I watched the inauguration most of the day.  Even though Cooper is only 3 and he probably won't remember much of what he saw today, he was very focused on the events at the capital.  He wanted us to fold our hands and pray during the invocation and scripture readings and during the benediction.  He told us to stand when the National Anthem was sung and we had to place our hands over our hearts.  He 'directed' the choir from Missouri State University.  He yelled "That's Donald Trump!" when he saw the new President.  

And there was no judgment. 

It was the transfer of power.  It was a day of tradition.  It was symbolic.  And that is what Cooper saw.

I am sad for people who are professing gloom and doom for the next 4 years,  for those who pick apart everything, and I do mean everything, that they see and hear about the new President, and for those especially who proclaim "He is not MY President."  First of all, give the new administration a chance.  Next stop hanging on very word and twisting and turning it, taking phrases out of context, and analyzing everything.  Finally if you live in the United States of American and are an American citizen, Donald Trump is the President.  That's it.  He is. 

I watched as much of the festivities today as I could and I enjoyed all of it. Because I am a fan of Donald Trump?  No.  Because I am an American, and I value our freedom. I value our traditions.  I value the symbolism - of the Bibles, of the administration of the oath, of the helicopter lifting from behind the Capitol building, of the Black Horse Troupe marching in the parade, of four of the five former living Presidents sitting on the platform, all of it.  No other country has the rich traditions that we in the United States are fortunate to celebrate.  I felt the same way when Obama became President, when Bush became President, when Clinton became President, and I will feel the same in four years when I watch another inauguration.

It was a day in history.  We have a new President.  And yes, he is MY President.  Because I am a citizen of the United States of America.