Archive for President Joe Biden

Let Us Be the Light, Together: Inauguration Reflections

It’s Wednesday Jan 20th, a new day, Inauguration day. The sunlight broke through the clouds over our nation’s capital this morning, in this  epiphany moment.
I’d like to share two moments that moved me deeply this morning, and look forward to hearing your experience of this historic day.
First, Amanda Gorman, a 22-year-old poet, read an original work at President Joe Biden’s inauguration. Her words are on my mind….
“We’ve seen a force that would shatter our nation rather than share it,
Would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy.
And this effort very nearly succeeded.
But while democracy can be periodically delayed,
It can never be permanently defeated
Let us see the light.. let us be the light”.
Second,  President Biden made reference to another January on New Year’s Day in 1863, when Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.
“When he [Lincoln] put pen to paper, the president said, and I quote, ‘if my name ever goes down into history, it’ll be for this act. And my whole soul is in it.’
On this January day, my whole soul is in this:
Bringing America together, uniting our people, uniting our nation.
And I ask every American to join me in this cause.
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.
I know speaking of unity can sound to some like a foolish fantasy these days. I know the forces that divide us are deep and they are real, but I also know they are not new. Our history has been a constant struggle between the American ideal that we’re all created equal and the harsh, ugly reality that racism, nativism, fear, demonization have long torn us apart. The battle is perennial and victory is never assured.”
Find full transcript here.
Let us be that light, that goodness together.  
 
Amen,