It is January 20th, 2025. On this date, every four years, a new president is sworn in, or the sitting president is sworn in for a second term. The swearing in date used to be March 4th, but starting with the inauguration of Franklin Roosevelt's first term in 1933, the date for the last 92 years has been January 20th.
Donald J. Trump was sworn in at 12.02p EST this afternoon as the nation's 47th President. He now joins Grover Cleveland as the only two presidents to serve non-consecutive terms.
I did not vote for President Trump. I did not vote for him in 2016, 2020, or 2024. The first times ever I did not vote for the Republican candidate for the nation's highest office. Quite frankly, I did not think then, nor do think now he was qualified to be president of these United States. That was my opinion when I went to the ballot box, and that opinion really hasn't changed.
I have friends, several to be exact, who voted for him, and are excited for him to be president again. I am happy for them, but do not share in their enthusiasm. But here is the thing. They are still my friends. My love for them, my commitment to them, my loyalty to them, does not change because we have differing political opinions. For me to dismiss them because of those beliefs, would be careless, non-productive and hurtful. That is not who I am.
The peaceful transfer of power is an amazing thing. It is not the norm in the world, and we have been doing it for 228 years, since March 4th, 1797, when George Washington watched as John Adams was sworn in as our second president.
While elections have been close, in our lifetime there has been more than one election where the integrity of the counting of votes has come into question. In 2000, the race between George W. Bush and Al Gore was not decided for over a month. Remember voter "intent" and hanging chads? Certainly the post-election riot of January 2021 is still fresh in our minds.
But at noon today, with outgoing President Biden standing a mere few feet away, President Trump took the oath from Chief Justice Roberts in the Capitol Rotunda, one of the most hallowed places in Washington.
Many cheered, not all were smiling. Some were deliriously happy, some were sincerely hurting, but is was peaceful. As it should have been, and as I pray, it always will be.
I am not naive. This is not a perfect country. There are a lot of internal and foreign problems facing our new president. President Trump's detractors in the Congress are ready for the political battle that will unfold over the next four years.
I think it is appropriate that on this day, we celebrate the birthday of one of the great peacemakers of our generation, or for that matter, any generation. Dr, Martin Luther King Jr. advocated civil rights, equal rights for all races. He also believed the pursuit of these rights should be done peacefully, through non-violent resistance. That applies to politics as well.
In a 1968 speech he said, "We must find new ways to speak for peace… for justice throughout the developing world, a world that borders on our doors. If we do not act, we shall surely be dragged down the long, dark, and shameful corridors of time reserved for those who possess power without compassion, might without morality, and strength without sight.”.
Let me say this about President Trump. Though I did not vote for him, I hope he succeeds. As a citizen of these United States, I recognize he is MY President, he represents all of us, not just those who voted for him. No matter what I think of him, the office of the President of the United States deserves my full respect and support. If I am a true American, nothing short of that is acceptable.
Peace, perfect peace.
Blessings.
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