A Promise to Keep

As clocks strike twelve noon today, the ceremony will commence to swear in a new President and Vice-President. Millions of people will crowd the Capitol lawns and around TV sets to cheer while still others will gather to protest and vilify. But let's not get into that.

The point to remember is that today two men will make a promise. The Constitution does not specify the words the new vice-president should speak, but traditionally he uses the same oath used by Senators and Representatives. The Constitution is clear, however, on the Presidential Oath of Office:

"I, <full name>, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States. So help me God."

Notice the phrase in the middle: "to the best of my ability." This recognizes he is a man. He will make mistakes. Even the best presidents in history were not infallible.

Notice also what it does not say. The President is not here to fulfill our financial needs or make us happy or tell us what we want to hear. His job is to defend the Constitution, to make sure it isn't shredded by over-reaching legislators or overrun by foreigners.

I wonder why we, as citizens, don't take an oath on this day? Why don't we vow to support our leaders, even if we don't agree with them? Why don't we promise to pray that God gives them the wisdom to do a good job?

One of my favorite movies is An American President starring Annette Benning and Michael Douglas. In the middle of the movie, the President and his advisors are deciding how to respond to an attack on Americans abroad. The President finally decides to bomb an empty building in retaliation, and someone praises him for being so presidential.

Paraphrasing: "I just ordered a bomb to be dropped on an office building at three in the morning, where three janitors are going about their normal day. They have no idea of what's about to happen. They're going to die. That is the least presidential thing I have ever done."

At the very least, let's remember the man taking the oath today has undertaken a difficult, difficult job. We are citizens of this country, and our job is no less important: to be responsible, productive citizens. Let us be a country who remembers what it's like to say "proud to be an American."