Inauguration Day: Honoring Our Democracy and Unity

Through war and peace through adversity and prosperity we hold this inauguration every 4 years and today it falls on Martin Luther King Day a further reminder that we must strive to uphold the values enshrined in our Constitution the freedoms the liberties and as is inscribed on the entrance of the United States Supreme Court equal justice under law But what makes this moment more than a passing ceremony is all who are watching it across the country the people of this nation the ordinary people doing extraordinary things With that responsibility of citizenship comes an obligation not to seek out malice as President Lincoln once reminded us but to view others with a generosity of spirit despite our differences With that responsibility of leadership comes an obligation to stand our ground when we must and find common ground when we can With everything swirling around us the hot mess of division it is on all of us to quote an incredible songwriter who just happened to be born in my state to ensure that our nation's democracy is our shelter from the storm There's a reason this ceremony takes place at the Capitol In other countries it might be in a presidential palace or a gilded executive office building Here it is traditionally held at the capital the people's house It is a fitting reminder of the system of checks and balances that is the very foundation of our government 3 equal branches of government That is how for nearly 250 years our great American experiment grounded in the rule of law has endured So as we inaugurate a new president and vice president let us remember that the power of those in this room comes from the people the construction workers who build our country the teachers and healthcare workers who nurture us the troops defending our freedoms and yes the firefighters in Los Angeles putting themselves on the line for us