Inauguration Day 2021
On January 20th, 2021, a very significant change occurred in America. A new President and Vice President were inaugurated and sworn into office. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris officially received their positions in office, and the Democratic party officially took control of the senate when the final new members, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock were sworn in. The day was filled with inspiration and represents a new era for America.
Biden’s inaugural address had an overarching theme of unity, Americans coming together despite their differences. In one section, he discusses how unity is important to all of his key issues. He said, “Uniting to fight the foes we face: anger, resentment, hatred, extremism, lawlessness, violence, disease, joblessness and hopelessness. With unity, we can do great things, important things. We can right wrongs. We can put people to work in good jobs. We can teach our children in safe schools. We can overcome the deadly virus. We can reward work, and rebuild the middle class, and make health care secure for all. We can deliver racial justice, and we can make America once again the leading force for good in the world.” He also addressed the recent riot at the Capitol Building on January 6th, 2021 early in his address, saying, “on this hallowed ground, where just a few days ago, violence sought to shake the Capitol’s very foundation, we come together as one nation, under God, indivisible, to carry out the peaceful transfer of power, as we have for more than two centuries.” Also during the speech, he requested that everyone take a moment of silent prayer for the people that died due to the Coronavirus pandemic. “Those 400,000 fellow Americans. Moms, dads, husbands, wives, sons, daughters, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. We will honor them by becoming the people and the nation we know we can and should be. So I ask you, let’s say a silent prayer for those who’ve lost their lives, those left behind, and for our country.” To conclude this inspiring speech, Biden thanked America, saying, “May God bless America, and may God protect our troops. Thank you, America.”
History was made by the inauguration of the first woman, Black, and South Asian Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris. In her address on Inauguration Day, she echoed Biden’s message about the greatness of America and the bright future ahead, “We not only dream, we do. We not only see what has been, we see what can be. We shoot for the moon and then we plant our flag on it. We are bold, fearless, and ambitious. We are undaunted in our belief that we shall overcome, that we will rise up.” Harris is sure to inspire many young people like her to work hard to be such an important American figure like her.
There were many public figures present at the ceremony, including Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton. The former presidents came together to make a video leaving a message for Americans, and the new President, Joe Biden. For Americans, they issued a message of unity echoing the theme of Biden’s speech. Obama said in the video, “We’ve got to not just listen to folks we agree with, but listen to folks we don’t.” All three former presidents, two democrats and one republican, standing and speaking as one exemplifies the unity preached in the speeches on Inauguration Day. For Biden, all three former Presidents had kind wishes. Bush, a member of the republican party, unlike Biden, said “Mr. President, I’m pulling for your success. Your success is our country’s success.” The other living former presidents, Jimmy Carter and Donald Trump, were not present at the ceremony. Biden said in his address, however, that he spoke with President Carter the previous night. “And I know, I know the resilience of our Constitution and the strength, the strength of our nation. As does President Carter, who I spoke with last night, who cannot be with us today, but whom we salute for his lifetime of service.” Unlike his running mate, former Vice President Mike Pence was at the ceremony. Trump was not referenced in the address or anywhere directly in the ceremony. His lack of presence broke a tradition unbroken since 1969 of outgoing presidents attending the inauguration ceremony of their successor.
In addition to the former presidents, the inauguration ceremony had many performers. Lady Gaga sang the national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner,” Jennifer Lopez sang a medley of “This Land is Your Land,” and “America the Beautiful,” and Garth Brooks sang “Amazing Grace,” all accompanied by the U.S. Marine Band. Another speaker that left a strong impact on Americans was poet Amanda Gorman, reading her poem, “The Hill We Climb.” At the young age of 23, Gorman’s poem touched many Americans, and struck a powerful chord of unity and improving our country. Her poem included many lines discussing positive change for America, including, “So while once we asked, how could we possibly prevail over catastrophe? Now we assert, how could catastrophe possibly prevail over us? We will not march back to what was but move to what shall be. A country that is bruised but whole, benevolent but bold, fierce and free.”
The 2021 inauguration ceremony is one to remember. Biden has already passed numerous new bills during his short time in office, and it will be great to see what he and his administration can do over the course of the next four years.