Yesterday’s Inauguration of Joe Biden – An Opinion Piece
Only two days after Martin Luther King day and two weeks after that scary intrusion into the Capitol building by Trump supporters, the inauguration of another American President was about to take place. In the same place with exactly the same out look that MLK would have had when he gave his ‘I have a dream’ speech, Joseph R Biden was sworn in. As was Kamala Harris, the first ever female; black, Asian Vice President both making history together.
It was a bight blue skied day in Washington but it must have been cold, as flurries of light snow came down and the dignitaries filed in and took their seats. Among them Barack and Michelle Obama, Bill and Hilary Clinton, George Bush, his wife and many more. Mr Trump, in disgrace, snubbed the day and left for Florida with Melania.
A rather low-key affair due to the pandemic and solemn undertones of the last year but still just enough to make it interesting to watch. And what it had in abundance for me was emotional value. The feelings and emotions of all that went on last year from the killing of George Floyd, the Black Lives Matter Movement and the consequential protests around the world. To the thousands lost due to Covid-19 and our new normal for living safely. Plus of course ex-President Trump’s strange ways of doing things! Not forgetting the emotion that comes along with inaugurating a man of 78 after his third time trying and the first black, Asian and female Vice President.
A toned down and appropriate Lady Gaga sang the National Anthem, a perfect looking (as always) J Lo, Jennifer Lopez gave her rendition in a white and sparkling outfit and Garth Brooks sang a moving Amazing Grace.
President elect Biden, by now the 46th president of the United States, gave a moving speech and cry for unity of all people in the melting pot that is America. Black, white, Muslim, Jew, a humble man, maybe he is just the person to calm down the tensions and bring that vast country together. With his sometimes ‘you need a hand’ and at other times ‘you need to lend a hand’ or words to that effect, he outlined the challenges perfectly so he must know the huge task ahead of him. As he told us. “Today is a new day! We must end this uncivil war!”
The youngest inauguration poet had lovely inspiring words for us, a mix of the truth and her personality which came out when she said “We, successors of a country and a time where a skinny black girl descended from slaves and raised by a single mother can dream of becoming President, only to find herself reciting for one.” Amanda Gorman was reading her poem “The Hill We Climb,” and wore the caged bird ring given by Oprah Winfrey, in memory of another inaugurate poet, the late Maya Angelou.
My favourite little bits were the Pledge of Allegiance recited by Captain fire fighter Andrea M Hall in sign language and perfectly white gloves. The ceremonial marches by soldiers, immaculate in their uniforms and in time to every beat. The handing over of power on those steps you could easily fall headlong down. The sympathy, compassion, humbleness in Biden’s speech and Kamala Harris making history! What were your favourite bits?
God bless The United States of America!
