On Thursday, when President Bush is sworn in for his second term, all of America – red states and blue states – should celebrate. The peaceful transfer of power between administrations is a hallmark of American democracy. In many places, and throughout history, power has been ceded only with violence.

The birth of the United States was marked by a revolution against England. Only by the wisdom and magnanimity of George Washington did our young country invest in the idea that presidents would not be kings and that authority would be granted with the ballot, not the bullet.

We recognize how difficult it is for many people who oppose the president’s policies to enjoy the grandeur of this year’s inauguration. President Bush has made it easy for them to be outraged with lavish plans for a $40 million party and by stiffing the District of Columbia for the added costs of security. The president is forcing D.C. to spend $12 million of its homeland security funding for the event, which degrades the city’s safety the rest of the year.

During this time of war and natural disaster, a toned-down affair would have been appropriate. But a cheaper inauguration would have provided little balm to those already angry with the president. Only an inauguration with someone other than Bush taking the Oath of Office would satisfy them.

There will be revelers and protesters – hidden from the view, to be sure. There will be black ties and boots, cowboy hats and furs, marching bands and Marines, flags and protest banners. And there will be hundreds of thousands of Americans, gathered together on the marvelous ground between the Lincoln Memorial and the U.S. Capitol, to participate in our common history.

The president deserves his party. He earned it with his electoral victory. And America deserves this party, whether we feel like cheering or crying, because it represents the promise of democracy.