Obama: Orderly change tribute to US By PHILIP ELLIOTT – 4 hours ago WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Barack Obama said Saturday his inauguration will be more than simply a transfer of power; it should be a celebration of the American spirit. Obama said his swearing-in Tuesday is a rite of passage that the country marks every four years as a testament to its democratic ideals. He cautioned that its tradition should not be taken for granted. "We must remember that our nation was founded at a time of kings and queens, and even today billions of people around the world cannot imagine their leaders giving up power without strife or bloodshed," Obama said in his weekly radio and Internet address. He noted that peaceful transfers between U.S. presidents have come regardless of circumstance. "Inaugurations have taken place during times of war and peace; in Depression and prosperity," Obama said. "Our democracy has undergone many changes, and our people have taken many steps in pursuit of a more perfect union. What has always endured is this peaceful and orderly transition of power."