Once again.

First black president. Liberal resurgence. Worldwide prestige. New approach to the economic crisis. Yes, those things matter a lot.

But what matters more is that, at long last - after eight dark years when many of us deeply feared that our American democracy had been irreparably degraded - we have a President who has sworn to protect and uphold the Constitution of the United States of America, and who appears to intend to carry out that oath.

Once again, my country has proven resilient to the assaults of history.