INAUGURATION DAY 2009

20JAN09 Inauguration Day.

This is an amazing day. I was just watching the news about today and decided I would rather be blogging my memories. Today they swore in the 44th President of the United States. I have been alive for 12 Presidents. I remember 11 of them. That's 91% recollection---why don't I remember the other one? I'll say it was because I was too young to remember him. I was five years old when Dwight D. Eisenhower was sworn in the first time. I probably don't remember that election but I do remember a campaign button with I LIKE IKE on it. I believe that was the slogan of the 1956 campaign.

This is a most amazing day---not only because Barack Obama is the first black President, but because today the power of this nation changed hands---peacefully---and with much ADO. One statement I will never forget that Obama made was "thank you to all of those that voted for me, and for all of you that didn't vote for me I'll be your President too." That is a pretty powerful statement. And like it or not, vote for him or not, he is our President.

Of the 12 Presidents I have lived through I have participated in the voting for eight of them. Of those eight I voted for four that got elected--50%--and that brings me to a profound saying I heard somewhere a few years ago. "This is the only country in the world that was set up on the principle that 51% of the people will be right more than 51% of the time." That is an amazing thing.

The other amazing thing is that today with the power shift there was no bloodshed. We have been very fortunate that there has not been more bloodshed in our politics. Martin Luther King, Jr. died just under forty-one years ago (I believe it was in March 1968---nope April 4, 1968---I know it was in Memphis 'cause I was sent there with the military) the result of an assassin's bullet. THAT IS A SAD DAY IN AMERICA'S HISTORY. It is a sad and scary and amazing memory for me. I was sent as part of the military riot control group to restore order to Memphis. Was it tough---nope we showed up and people walked away. Was I scared---you betcha I can define terror because of that assignment. What is amazing about that?---there were no other deaths resulting from the murder of Dr. King.

I should have titled this blog ramble on....so what is the point of this blog? If you live in the United States of America or it's territories then you have a new President. He has a right to all of the power and respect of the office. Whether you voted for him or not, whether you are Democrat, Republican, Independant or whatever. Whether you like it or not. HE IS YOUR PRESIDENT. He deserves your support and 2012 is coming. It is amazing that Presidents serve only four years then run for re-election but can serve no more than eight years total. I have been in my job seven years and still do not feel like I have mastered it---can't imagine what it is like as President.

But I can tell you one thing for sure. THE WEIGHT OF THE PRESIDENCY WILL TAKE IT'S TOLL ON OBAMA---JUST LIKE IT DID ON ALL THE OTHERS. It appears to be a weighty job.