Biden’s Inauguration Signals a New Chapter in American History
On Wednesday, America ushered in a new chapter in American history with the swearing in of Joe Biden, the 46th President of the United States of America, and glass ceilings were shattered when Kamala Harris made history as the first woman, first Black person and first person of South Asian descent to become vice president. Wednesday’s inauguration took place at a Capitol two weeks earlier under siege by domestic terrorists and a heavy military presence along. Social distancing, masks, and limited attendance served as a reminder of the times, but it did not overshadow the moment.
The 59th presidential inauguration was not only historic, it offered a ray of hope on a country which has become bitterly divided. During Biden’s inaugural speech, he spoke about the current “uncivil war” our nation is experiencing. Unlike 1861, the current civil war our nation is facing is not Confederate versus Union, but it’s red against blue, conservative versus liberal. The partisan divide has grown exponentially over the past four years with the stoking of fears and attacking the truth with disinformation. In short, Biden has his work cut out for him to unite the country.
A divided country is not the only issue Biden inherits.
This week marks the one-year anniversary since COVID-19 was first discovered in the United States. Along with that grim anniversary, America crosses the threshold of 400,000 deaths from coronavirus. The nation continues to find itself in the grips of the pandemic with no end in sight.
The labor market continues to struggle as over 900,000 workers filed for unemployment benefits last week. These claims remain higher than during any other recession in American history. Even though the economy has slowly recovered since last spring due to trillions of dollars in federal aid, it remains in a lurch.
Extremism and the unrelenting threat of white nationalism continue to permeate the nation. Radical beliefs and conspiracy theories reached a tipping point leading to the domestic terror attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6th.
Biden acknowledged these challenges openly, and saying, “is a time for boldness, for there is so much to do.” Meeting the moment head on, President Biden delivered America a vision of hope, not fear for the nation’s newest chapter. Calling on those who did not vote for him to measure him and his heart, offering if they still disagree, that’s democracy.
The road to restoring American values at home and on the world’s stage is long, the path Biden laid out in his inaugural address is a good start. The next four years are a time for healing and bridging divides, but it will be up to us as Americans to be brave enough to see the light and ensure democracy and hope, truth and justice, thrive on our watch.