So much better than the alternative
With 2021 rolling around and the inauguration of President Joe Biden having officially taken place, I think we can all breath a sigh of relief and say “thank fuck that’s over.” Congratulations to everyone south of the border, you did it; you showed up and put someone that wasn’t the walking definition of the word “pathetic” into office. Granted, more than 74 million still voted for the prick, but small victories, people, small victories. I would personally like to extend my gratitude to Georgia, Pennsylvania and Michigan for being the all-star tag team of states that helped to make this a reality. That being said, and bashing aside, let’s look at President Biden, the inauguration and what we can expect in this bright new year.
As far as the inauguration goes, it was a nice way to usher in the new President. Garth Brooks, a known Republican, performed at the ceremony and talked about what would end up being the theme of the day: unity. Brooks’ discussion, much like others that would talk during the inauguration, was one that everyone needed to hear after the four years of sheer thick-headedness that took place in the United States (sorry, bashing again). However, Brooks’ discussion was far from the highlight of the night, as Amanda Gorman’s inaugural poem, ‘The Hill We Climb,’ was a reading that struck an emotional chord with the many in attendance and watching from home.
For those that didn’t get a chance to hear the reading and experience the emotional weight that it brought the inauguration, here is a small excerpt from it just below:
But one thing is certain,
If we merge mercy with might,
and might with right,
then love becomes our legacy,
and change our children’s birthright.
So let us leave behind a country
better than the one we were left with.
Every breath from my bronze-pounded chest,
we will raise this wounded world into a wondrous one.
We will rise from the gold-limbed hills of the west.
We will rise from the windswept northeast,
where our forefathers first realized revolution.
We will rise from the lake-rimmed cities of the midwestern states.
We will rise from the sunbaked south.
We will rebuild, reconcile and recover.
And every known nook of our nation and
every corner called our country,
our people diverse and beautiful will emerge,
battered and beautiful.
This powerful section of Ms. Gorman’s poem solidifies what is (or rather, what should be) the common goal of all Americans. The time for divide and the time for hate is over. Plain and simple. There are no ifs, ands or buts when it comes to the numerous subjects that need to be addressed in the U.S. – as well as Canada – today. As someone who truly hopes for the very best of people, I certainly hope to see the very best of President Biden as he moves forward with his presidency.
Overall, let’s hope this presidency, as well as this year, holds significantly more positives as we all look to continue to stay healthy. Also enough with the Bernie Sanders mittens meme.
