Let the healing begin…again

Let the healing begin! Today is the inauguration of President Barack Obama. Literally millions of people have descended on Washington, DC. The attention of most of the USA is on Washington today, as is the attention of many of the world’s government. At noon today, a new President will take his oath of office. Yes, today is a day to say, “let the healing begin.”

No, I am not talking about racial reconciliation. I am not even talking about current events. I am actually talking about something that we do as a nation every four years. This election has not been the first election with acrimony, hard fighting, and predictions of doom. Those have happened in several elections during the lifetime of this nation. In spite of that, come inauguration day, this nation–with the glaring exception of the inauguration of President Abraham Lincoln–puts aside the fighting and comes together for a peaceful transition of power.

There are too many nations where a transition of power is bracketed by national violence, fears of insurrection, etc. There are many nations where the transition of power is the signal to begin “show trials” against the previous administration. But not here. By and large, with the one exception, a transition of power is a peaceful time when we put down our rhetoric, pull together, and honor the incoming new President. And, with small exceptions, the healing from the campaign rhetoric begins. We say that the new President gets about 100 days of peace from both Congress and the press. And, that is very unusual in most countries in the world. [Again, there have been a couple of exceptions in our history.]

And, in those 100 days, the new President has the opportunity to set a course for the nation. Those 100 days are the opportunity a new President has to show his mettle, to show that he understands the United States of America and her people and to set a course that will benefit all of us. Not all Presidents have handled this period well, but–with one exception–all Presidents have had this chance. And that is most unusual in the world.

And so, today, it is with great joy that I shout out, “Let the healing begin…again.” Or, to paraphrase a sentence that was used in England when the old King/Queen died and the new King/Queen immediately took the throne (though the coronation could be much later), “The President has left office. Long live the President!”

source:http://www.orthocuban.com/2009/01/let-the-healing-beginagain/