Regular readers of TMV will know that unlike some of my fellow bloggers I do not come to this day as an enthusiastic support of President Obama. This does not mean I am an opponent either, I simply remain on the fence with regard to as his ability to do what needs to be done as well as being concerned about how far to the left he may choose to govern.

However today as I watched him take the oath and receive his 21 gun salute to the strains of Hail To The Chief I could not help but feel my heart swell with pride. Not because of the man but because of my love for this country and my deepest admiration for the traditions of peaceful transition. These feelings were enhanced by the historic aspect of the honors going to a man whose ancestors may well have been the slaves who helped to build the very platform he stood upon.

As I have said in other postings, I will give him time to work but will not hesitate to speak up when I think he is wrong or to oppose policies I think are against our best interests. If he is the man that we all hope he is I am sure he would tell me to do just that, to speak up for what I believe (though I do not expect the President to call me personally to say that it would be nice).

However today is a special day and one in which we can all celebrate. Once every four years we come together and forget the past, set aside the future and simply join in celebration of our freedom and love for country. Tomorrow and in the future we can have the strong, civil, healthy debate that makes our nation strong, but for now we can take the day to celebrate that which unites us, which is much bigger than that which divides.

So for all our readers, left, right and center I ask you to lift your beverage of choice to the screen and join me

TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES !!