Like many, many citizens, I stood in the frigid street in front of the Capital building in Washington, DC, to witness the 55th Inauguration, having waited in line forever and enduring the humiliation of security and fighting off a snow storm in order to see a screen far off in the distance on which the action took place. We could barely make out the words of President Bush, Vice President Cheney, or Chief Justice Rehnquist. We could barely even see them on the screen. But we knew something big was happening, and we were a part of history.
Those who attended the Inauguration were a slice of America – Republicans, Democrats, Independents, Libertarians, and Greens. I stood next to a young man who cheered on protestors, and explored Washington with a formerly hardcore Kerry supporter. Those came from every state and many countries, most taking time away from work or school to attend. It was truly an American experience.
President Bush is a divisive figure, so they say. His approval rating was not very high when he was re-elected, and some polls indicate it has declined since then. Yet, for a moment in time, save for a few of the most zealous protestors, we were all united as a people, as Americans or as supporters of America. We could all take a deep breath and know that we were truly blessed to live in a country where leaders take power peacefully and only through the consent of the people. We could all thank God that we lived in a country where we would be free to go back to our homes and say anything we wanted about the president we had just seen inaugurated and not fear retribution.
In many ways, the inauguration of a president is a non-partisan event. Those who support the president that is being sworn in are obviously happier than those who do not, but even they can take pride in knowing that in four years they’ll get another chance. The republic does not end if one loses an election. We do not have to fear death or imprisonment for supporting the “wrong” candidate. We can just go about our lives, and live in peace with those whom we feel are dead wrong when it comes to politics, but who are good people with only the best of intentions.
Should America get involved in the affairs of other countries to bring liberty and freedom to them also? Therein lies a great debate in our nation today. President Bush certainly thinks so, as he said in his speech: “There is only one force of history that can break the reign of hatred and resentment, and expose the pretensions of tyrants, and reward the hopes of the decent and tolerant, and that is the force of human freedom.” But he went on to explain how freedom for others was in our interests: “The survival of liberty in our land increasingly depends on the success of liberty in other lands.” A controversial statement, to be sure. Many cheered it. A person next to me sarcastically wondered aloud why he failed to include Saudi Arabia in his wish list for liberty.
America has its problems. Astute observers of history know that questioning virtually everything the government does, whether it be imposing taxes or the Patriot Act, is necessary to maintaining liberty. Our government has become far larger and more intrusive than our Founders ever wanted. And yet, it is still a success, because America remains a city on a hill, a place where the poor and downtrodden of the world aspire to come. How can anyone not be moved when we see Cubans risking it all on inflatable rafts to get to Miami, or refugees from Haiti doing the same. Some say America is a racist society. Someone apparently forgot to tell these braves souls that.
As much as I disliked John Kerry, no politician was ever more right than he was the day after he was defeated when he proclaimed: “But in an American election, there are no losers, because whether or not our candidates are successful, the next morning we all wake up as Americans. And that -- that is the greatest privilege and the most remarkable good fortune that can come to us on earth.”
We can all debate on how liberty should be spread abroad, about abortion or gun control, about the death penalty or war. And then we can remain friends, united in our love of freedom and liberty. Our ability to do this is a rarity in the world, and we are truly blessed to be here, because this is America, the greatest country in history.John Brown (www.johnnorrisbrown.com) is a senior in political science and history at the University of Tennessee @ Knoxville. Contact him at johnnyb325@aol.com. This column originally appeared in the January 25, 2005 edition of The Daily Beacon entitled "Inauguration unites America," available here.