One of the hallmarks of the grand experiment that is the United States of America is the peaceful transition of power.
In a world historically beset by military coups and revolutions and the seizing of power by despots and tyrants, for more than 200 years this nation has successfully transferred its presidency without the shedding of blood. The Civil War could be viewed as an exception, but that was the result of Southern states forming their own nation in a misguided attempt to preserve the institution of slavery, rather than an effort to grab the reins of power in the United States.
So it is that Donald J. Trump today will become the 45th president of the United States, an occasion marked by more enmity than is usual and an event likely to be accompanied by mistrust of the new president from many quarters. Hard feelings have lingered since the election in which Trump defeated Hillary Clinton, and there are valid reasons to question Trump’s fitness to be president.
As Trump takes the oath of office, those feelings must be set aside. Today, regardless of how one feels about Trump or the results of the election, it is imperative to remember that we all are Americans first, and that identifying as a Democrat or Republican is secondary to that fact. Trump won the election, and rooting for him to fail is akin to hoping that a pilot crashes the plane in which you are riding.
As America transfers power and does so in a fashion that is the envy of much of the world, we must acknowledge that the world is watching. Emerging nations are observing the manner in which the United States reacts to a new leader; enemy entities are observing in hopes of seeing fissures in this nation that can be exploited. And while much of America’s strength comes from our right to express disagreements, much of it also comes from an ability to set aside those disagreements and find a common purpose.
Of course, the high road has not always been the path of choice. President Obama, who has served nobly for eight years, faced egregious attempts to delegitimize his presidency, most notably through the absurd and insulting “birther” movement. The fact that Trump was one of those attempting to discredit the president demonstrates the remarkably strange events that have led to this current transfer of power.
Those in Congress who stated that their goal was to make Obama a one-term president (they failed miserably) and those who sought to delegitimize him simply served to denigrate the nation they profess to respect, and similar efforts against Trump would have the same effect. Let us come together on Inauguration Day, if not to celebrate Trump’s victory but to celebrate this great nation. There will be time enough in the next four years to examine the new president’s actions and to — if necessary — oppose those actions, as is our right.
It is likely that a Trump presidency will be unlike any we have seen before. With no military or governing experience, he is the most unlikely and most unorthodox person to take over the office. That will carry with it both positives and negatives, yet the salient point is that his election was the will of the people as dictated by a system that has served us well for centuries.
To put it in terms that the businessman Trump would best understand, this is not a hostile takeover. It is simply the latest chapter in the writing of a uniquely American story — a story that is deserving of respect.
