We have reason to be proud as Texans. On January 20, George W. Bush became the 43rd president of the United States. Thousands of Americans traveled to Washington D.C. to take part in the festivities. And millions more watched on television.
Presidential inaugurations happen every four years.
We view it as a matter of course. This peaceful transference of power is so ingrained in our culture that we seldom consider its magnitude. It s a celebration of America and an opportunity to heal the wounds of electoral politics. But the event also signals the peaceful relinquishment of power, one of the hallmark characteristics of American democracy. The founding fathers based our government on the premise that power emanates from the people.