American Tradition of Transfer of Power

[William Kelly]

There were three interesting and relevant presentations at the Inauguration, including the short speech by Sen. Lamar Alexander on the American tradition of transfer of power, the invocation by Myrlie Evers and the poem by a Cuban-American poet.

http://jfkcountercoup2.blogspot.com/

There was a brief appearance on the dais of a Republican during President Obama's inauguration ceremony this morning. Senator Lamar Alexander (R.-Tenn.) appeared before Vice President Biden took his ceremonial oath of office to lay out why conservatives have reason to at least admire America on a day when their political adversary officially begins his second term in office.

"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."

Myrlie Evers-Williams became the first laywoman to give an inaugural invocation at President Barack Obama’s inauguration Monday. Evers-Williams is the widow of civil rights leader Medgar Evers, who was killed by a white supremacist in 1963. The full text of Evers-Williams’ invocation is below:

America, we are here, our nation’s Capitol on this January the 21st 2013, the inauguration of our 45th president Barack Obama. We come at this time to ask blessings upon our leaders, the president, vice president, members of Congress, all elected and appointed officials of the United States of America. We are here to ask blessings upon our armed forces, blessings upon all who contribute to the essence of the American spirit, the American dream. The opportunity to become whatever our mankind, womankind, allows us to be. This is the promise of America.

JFKCountercoup2: Myrlie Evers-Williams Invocation

Cuban-American poet Richard Blanco reads a poem.

January 21, 2013, 9:44 a.m.

The following poem was delivered by inauguration poet Richard Blanco during ceremonies for President Obama's second inaugural Monday. The text of the poem was provided by the Presidential Inaugural Committee.

"One Today"

One sun rose on us today, kindled over our shores,

peeking over the Smokies, greeting the faces

of the Great Lakes, spreading a simple truth

across the Great Plains, then charging across the Rockies.

One light, waking up rooftops, under each one, a story

told by our silent gestures moving behind windows.

JFKCountercoup2: Richard Blanco's Inaugural Poem

Also see:

JFKcountercoup: MLK on Non-Violence and Political Assassination

Edited January 22, 2013 by William Kelly