Dear Editor,

IF we are to believe that only blessings fall from above, then, when light snow fell on Wednesday in Washington DC, that must have certainly been blessings for America’s inauguration ceremony. After all the speculations, reservations, doubts, hopes, fears and anxieties, Joe Biden took the oath of office at noon, to become the 46th president for all of the United States of America. He takes charge in a deeply divided nation, inheriting a confluence of crises arguably greater than any faced by his predecessors. History was made as Kamala Harris was sworn in as the Vice- President, the first woman to hold this position. The former U.S. Senator from California, being the first non-Caucasian person and the first person of South Asian and Caribbean descent, was elected to the vice presidency and becomes the highest-ranking woman ever to serve in government. She was sworn in Wednesday by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latino to serve on the Supreme Court. The oaths were taken in the presence of the families of both the President and the Vice-President, past Presidents, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, George Bush Jr. and their respective wives.

Wednesday marked a day of “history and hope” for a country that has “learned again that democracy is precious,” as per Biden’s speech. A tension-filled moment consumed with emotions and elation, there was bitter-sweetness shared in an ambience heralding royalty and loyalty, friendship and unity and peacefulness and happiness. The alert environment was wary with precautions and tight security pervading in a highly armed, defensive mood, but ready to be offensive in a battle zone. It was a cold atmosphere in a winter month that conducted an open-air programme to house limited guests and people from all rank and file under a pandemic-restricted protocol situation. Two notable absentees were the outgoing President Donald Trump, and his wife, former First Lady Melania Trump. It was a satisfying occasion to see past Vice-President Pence and past Majority Leader of the Senate, Mitch McConnell, present to defy the snobbery of Trump.
With the pomp and circumstance granted to a foreign leader visiting the nation’s capital, the taxpayer-funded ceremony treated Trump to a military band playing “Hail to the Chief” as deafening sounds from a 21-gun salute echoed across Joint Base Andrews. The event was witnessed by a few, but was mostly boycotted by many who were once considered close to President Trump. Some intimated that Trump would resort to childish antics while others suspected the former President to try to leave a child or two at the White House. Before leaving, he did grant clemency to some 143 people but was legally advised not to grant for himself or his family in his final hours, which would have reflected pre-emptive guilt.

A day that was electrified with the dynamic performing artistry of Lady Gaga singing the National Anthem, Jennifer Lopez rendering, “This land Is your land” and “America the Beautiful,” followed by Garth Brookes wooing the crowd with “Amazing Grace.” The words and feelings certainly touched all to reflect and ponder on a divided nation, suffering tremendous damage from a mob of anarchists. In the new President’s closing remarks, Joe Biden cautioned, “The dream for justice will be deferred no longer.” Every little girl in America can now look up with a glee in her eyes and hope in her heart that dreams do materialise and there is equal opportunity for all. People of all ethnicities can stand proudly to know that they can be properly represented. The world once again can be proud of America and look up to this nation for leadership, guidance and protection.

Of significant importance and perhaps, stealing some of the limelight of the day, 22-year-old Amanda Gorman, the youngest inaugural poet ever, read a work she finished after the Capitol Hill riot. “We’ve seen a force that would shatter our nation rather than share it; would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy. But while democracy can be periodically delayed, it can never be permanently defeated.” Her poetry drew tears and persuaded the gathering to ponder on the events that led up to the siege of Capitol Hill on that dark day of January 6th by rioters and protesters, one that threatened the very lives of Representatives from the House and senate for both the Democrats and Republicans. In his 21-minute speech, President Joe Biden called for Americans to unite and confront the perilous challenges before them: a deadly coronavirus pandemic and economic turmoil, as well as divisions over American leadership, immigration and climate change. He asserted that “democracy has prevailed.” The day stamped strength, determination and virtue, when lies and deceit can no longer fool the nation and must subside into the background, while, truth, honesty and honour will once again survive to underscore the dignity of being on the front line.

Respectfully,
Jai Lall