On Wednesday, January 20, Joseph R Biden Jr. became the 46th President of the United States. It was the peaceful transfer of power made even more special by the events that took place only two weeks earlier. Perhaps it took an angry mob to remind us that democracy only survives because we want it to survive. As such, democracy needs constant reinforcement. Symbolism is an effective way to do that. Here is some of the symbolism on display Wednesday.
- We put our best foot forward, signifying the importance of the event.
- The outgoing Vice-President attended (even if the outgoing President didn’t).
- Three former presidents—from both parties—attended and held center-stage.
- The chief opposition leader attended.
- The oath was sworn to a constitution, not a person.
- The new President spoke of unity.
- The pass-in-review reflected a well-disciplined military, not an armed mob.
- Congressmen stopped calling him Joe—he’s now Mr. President.
- The Administration’s diversity reflects a nation-state (fiefdoms rely on ethnicity to function).
- Twenty-five thousand National Guard troops maintained order (more than a fiefdom could have provided).
- National Guard troops were used, symbolizing domestic strength (Armed Forces are reserved for fighting foreign adversaries).
- Laying a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier gave the image of the new President paying homage to America’s Citizen Emeritus, pledging his best service to the one who sacrificed the most for the nation.
Nation-states are more resilient than fiefdoms but need constant reinforcement, unlike governments based on ethnicity or kinship. Americans can celebrate that our government withstood the attack by an angry mob, the various attacks on its institutions, and attacks on the rule-of-law itself in recent years—all culminating in the peaceful transfer of power. That’s something to brag about.
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