United We Stand...Divided We Can Still Fall
By Travis K. McSherley

For the first time in nine years, we enter this February with a President Bush residing at 1600 Pennsylania Avenue.  On January 20, the George W. Bush administration began work following an controversial and somewhat protested inauguration.  Hopefully, this inaugration will be the start of good things in the next four years, but it is going to take a unified effort by Republicans and Democrats, citizens and their representatives, people and leadership. 

I am a bit disappointed by some of the responses to the Bush inauguration.  Boos, protests...not a great start to the unifying challenge if you ask me.  The time for protest has passed.  As soon as Mr. Gore conceded the election, protests need to have given way to support.  We must respect the President unless he convinces us that he is undeserving of respect.  President Bush has not yet provided reason to disrespect his authority; thus, we must accept his God-given leadership, regardless of whether we personally voted for him or not.  In his inaugural speech, President Bush voiced his desire to "live and lead by these principles: to advance my convictions with civility; to pursue the public interest with courage; to speak for greater justice and compassion; to call for responsibility, and try to live it as well."  Because of the circumstances by which he came to be President, Bush will certainly be held to these high standards, and rightly so.  But we must stand behind him and give him a chance to live up to those standards before we judge him and cut him down.

The new presidency marks the beginning of what are sure to be some rough, scary, yet hopeful years in the United States.  “Our unity, our union, is the serious work of leaders and citizens in every generation,” President Bush said in his speech.  But it is not just his job to see that this unity exists, it is our duty as citizens to remain "United" States.  We must use this presidency to secure our position as "one nation under God."  Four years from now, we can put a new resident in the White House if necessary.  But for now, let's give our President a chance, because  just as the years before and the years to come, THIS is the year of our Lord.