Inauguration Day

I can not say I am ecstatic about the outcome of the election, but I won’t lose respect for the office of the presidency no matter how much I disagree with the party that is in control.

Nevertheless, the campaign is finally over. The American people have spoken. Obama is our new president. All Americans must now give him the respect that an American president deserves. Also, we should give him our support as long as he works to earn our respect and does not govern as an extreme partisan.

I have no bitterness left from the election—there were no controversial vote tallies, no charges of fraud or cheating—and I think that Obama won a fair campaign against John McCain, a great American whose service to and sacrifice for his country deserve respect, regardless of whether you agree with his politics.

Please do not misunderstand me. Giving someone respect does not mean giving them carte blanche to do whatever they wish. We should respect our president. We do not have to support him if he leads this country in a direction we believe is wrong. We have a right, indeed an obligation, to resist and object to policies which offend.

I’m sure that in the next four years, I’ll disagree with much of the new president’s policies. I may even do so publicly, and expect – and hope – others will, too. But there’s a difference between philosophical disagreements and disrespect.

Ideology aside, I am proud to have an African-American family in the White House. This beautiful family has a great opportunity to lift the self-esteem of black Americans and to help all Americans become better members of the human family. Today’s inauguration has become one of the greatest periods of American history. I hope everyone can appreciate today's event, feelings aside.