Inauguration Day

Despite my having Monday off work, I didn't watch the inauguration festivities that day. If you want to accuse me of being a sore loser or even unpatriotic, go right ahead. The truth is I had little desire to listen to a man who is so very obviously contemptuous of the nearly 50% of the electorate who thought someone else would have made a better Commander in Chief.

With that said, I can appreciate the spirit that surrounds Inauguration Day, even if the person being inaugurated comes off as some sort of ruler as opposed to a Democratically elected leader.

Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) brilliantly captured the essence of what this day means for America.

"The American tradition of transferring or reaffirming immense power... we do this in a peaceful and orderly way," Alexander said. "There is no mob, no coup, no insurrection. This is a moment when millions stop and watch."

Indeed, the longtime peaceful transfer or reaffirmation of power is a uniquely American thing to behold. From the moment that General George Washington resigned as commander in chief of the Continental Army in 1783, peaceful transfer of power has reigned in the United States.

Sen. Alexander quoted George Washington in closing: "The peaceful transition of power is what will separate this country from every other country in the world."

Indeed. And it is that distinct difference which fostered my tremendous disgust towards certain political leftists who so freely threw around the word "dictator" when describing President George W. Bush. If those mental midgets had any conception of what a dictatorship really entailed, they might have been a little more judicious when they emitted their vapid screeds. That, and they would've also realized that dictators aren't typically known to respectfully pass over their reign to a successor, like Bush did to Barack Obama four years ago.

So even though it was not my preferred Presidential candidate being sworn in to the Presidency on Monday, I still take a tremendous amount of pride that I can participate in a system where my voice can be heard. I do not take that for granted, especially in light of the fact that the people of Iran, Cuba, Venezuela and North Korea can only dream of such a privilege.

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