Regarding the Peaceful Transfer of Power
As a 50% American, I have a question to those who are 100% American and live stateside. What is up with this seeming wonder at elections happening without violence? I thought it was an anomaly at first, but clearly this is a trend. In newspapers and tv interviews and blogs I see the same thing: A celebration that the election happened peacefully, with one side conceding without resorting to violence, with no riots in the streets or tanks.
Excuse me, but what?
That’s like a celebration that New York kept electricity going one whole day without blackouts, or that no child died of cholera because of contaminated drinking water this year. The US is the longest running democracy in the world, isn’t it a little old to still be getting the golden star sticker for peaceful transitions? Am I the only one that finds this weird?
I’ve found it a little strange myself. All the stories going, “OMG! Wil it come down to the Senate!?” we see every four years. It’s a bit ridiculous.
for us maybe.
Given the nature of power and thousands of years of violent regime change throughout the world, ANY peaceful transition is a miracle… I am glad the media reminds us of this.
don’t forget the ever pressing desire to forget what’s good about the US Chris.
Oh, and I forgot to directly respond to the post. All the stories about “Bush promises to cooperate.”
Like he was going to do anything else? Come on.
I think we are noticing this more because our world is smaller than it was a hundred years ago. We can turn on the tv and see violent mobs against the current leadership in another country, etc. We realize now more than ever that elections don’t go this smoothly elsewhere. Our peaceful inaugurations are always something to be celebrated and shouldn’t ever be taken for granted.
I find it weird in the sense of the commentators constantly referring to this peaceful transition as a uniquely American phenomenon. I would think that this would be offensive to the many other democratic governments around the world that seem to have no problem with transitions either.
I think it’s healthy to celebrate it, but we shouldn’t claim more bragging rights to it than we are entitled.
It is unusually American in respect of the presidential system.
Most other democracies are parliamentary systems. Democracies outside of the United States with presidential systems have often been plagued with coups and refusals to leave power or other underhanded corruptions of democratic processes (e.g. Putin’s Russia, most recently, or Chavez’ Venezuela).
In light of the fact that some of the biggest far-left wackos (e.g. Libby at Newshoggers) predicted that the Bush administration would cancel elections or otherwise refuse to leave office, I don’t mind the hyperventilating about the peaceful transition of power. It forces those BDS obsessives to question their reflexive anti-Americanism for at least a few seconds, and any time extremists have to face a moment of cognitive dissonance, it is a good thing.
It is unusually American in respect of the presidential system.
That is a good point, I hadn’t thought of that.
In light of the fact that some of the biggest far-left wackos (e.g. Libby at Newshoggers) predicted that the Bush administration would cancel elections or otherwise refuse to leave office
LOL, I’d forgotten about that.
Not a coup I admit, but I hear that the Clinton White House staff vandalized their offices and computers before handing over to Bush. I suppose childish antics were more important to them than the taxpayer’s money that was spent on the offices and equipment. Good to see that “evil” etc. (yawn) Bush didn’t do the same…